German man faces possible deportation

Jimbaran: A 45-year-old German national, Robert Ottile, may face deportation for allegedly violating his work permit.

Immigration officers went to his rented room in Jimbaran and arrested Ottile, who has lived in Bali for 23 years, on Friday after he refused to cooperate with them.

The officers took the German to the immigration detention center at the Ngurah Rai International Airport complex.

Ottile is known as a producer of Nemo dive wear.

“I refused to surrender as I did not see any reason why I should be deported,” Ottile complained, adding that his former wife had bought his air ticket.

While in the detention center, Ottile wrote a letter to request that his deportation be postponed for two weeks.

He said he was settling a dispute between himself and his former wife, Niniek Tirto Sari, including child custody.

The couple, who divorced in April, have two children, while his ex-wife has two other children from a previous marriage.

Ottile established a leather fashion factory in Seminyak producing diving suits with an investment of US$300,000. His clients include professional divers and the Indonesian Navy.

“I am suspicious that my ex-wife filed a deportation request with the immigration office. I think she really wants to take over my company’s shares,” said Ottile.

The dispute, including financial rights and child custody, between Ottile and his wife began after they divorced.

“My passport was seized by immigration officers in 2011. I did not know that I was summoned for deportation,” he explained.

According to Ottile, the ordered deportation was not in line with procedure. “The immigration office has never informed me, or the German consulate here in Denpasar,” he said.

Wayan Sudana, head of thee Ngurah Rai immigration office, said he had been instructed to enforce the deportation of the German citizen.

“The instruction came directly from the Jakarta immigration office,” Sudana told Bali Daily on Wednesday.