Denpasar Immigration Rejects Passport Applications For 3 Suspected TIPs, Plans To Become Woodman In Africa

The photo archive - Residents came to the Denpasar Immigration Office to process travel documents, including passport applications in Denpasar, Bali, Friday (2/8/2024). ANTARA/Dewa Ketut Sudiarta Wiguna

DENPASAR - Denpasar Immigration Office, Bali, rejected the request of three Indonesian citizens from East Java regarding the alleged crime of trafficking in persons (TPPO).

"They plan to work in a country in Africa as woodmen," said Head of the Class I Immigration Office of TPI Denpasar Ridha Sah Putra in Denpasar, Wednesday.

According to him, the three people whose identities were not identified planned to be Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) by not complying with official procedures, namely not completing administrative requirements, including official work contract documents.

When the immigration officers conducted interviews with the three people, he said, officers found discrepancies with the documents.

"They applied for a passport through the acceleration system. However, they failed to show proof of official work contracts as the main requirement," he added.

The officer then reported the findings to the supervision team to investigate them.

After going through an examination, continued Ridha, it was confirmed that the three prospective migrant workers intended to work abroad without appropriate documents so that they refused their passport application.

The Immigration Office Class I of the Denpasar Immigration Checkpoint (TPI) asked the public, especially prospective migrant workers, to comply with official procedures in managing travel documents.

Ridha said that his party is also committed to increasing supervision to prevent similar practices from happening in the future.

"This effort not only ensures the protection of Indonesian citizens from TIP crimes, but is also part of efforts to support the safety and welfare of migrant workers abroad," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, November 20.

Meanwhile, based on Denpasar Immigration data during the first half of 2024, new applications for regular passports reached 9,299 applications, 7,675 passport replacements, 4,598 electronic passport applications, and 8,924 electronic passport replacement requests.

On the other hand, the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office in Badung Regency, Bali, also postponed the departure of 292 Indonesian citizens (WNI) abroad because they were suspected of being migrant workers not in accordance with procedures during January 'October 2024.