A marine tourism company, PT Mentawai Wisata Bahari (MWB) in Padang, West Sumatra, clarified on Thursday the status of its Australian marketing manager Richard L. Cameron, saying that he had never been deported nor did he have a criminal record.
"Many friends, clients and associates have contacted us and Mr. Cameron. They were deeply concerned over recent newspaper articles that gave the impression that he had been deported from Indonesia," PT MWB general manager Rita Marina said, referring to two articles published in The Jakarta Post on Nov. 17 and 18.
"We would like to clarify that Mr. Cameron's stay permit expired because of delays in the processing of PT MWB's application for an IMTA (License for a Foreign Worker). Mr. Cameron was never deported and he has done nothing wrong."
Marina said the Regional Manpower Office had requested that the company delay lodging its application on two occasions because a new department head was being sworn in and that the office had accepted PT MWB's application to extend Cameron's work permit some two weeks later.
"A work permit approval letter (RPTKA) was promptly issued by Manpower and PT MWB then paid the required $1,200 tax to Manpower's bank account as instructed," she said.
"I was getting worried about the delays so I personally presented the receipt to Manpower staff who advised that the company had fulfilled all requirements. This payment was completed one week before Mr. Cameron's stay permit expired but the IMTA was not released and no clear explanation was offered. Manpower staff referred to some documents that had been presented by a third party accusing Mr. Cameron of various crimes and stating that he was 'a wanted criminal' in Australia. The official refused to show the documents to me.
"On November 14th, I discussed the problem with the Head of Immigration who advised that they were unable to issue an extension letter to Mr. Cameron to allow time for Manpower to complete the processing of the IMTA. The Head of Immigration instead advised me that PT MWB should apply for an EPO (Exit Permit Only) for Mr. Cameron so that he could leave the country and return on a temporary visa," Marina continued.
"Maybe Indonesian reporters are not familiar with the meaning of 'Exit Permit Only' as the document is only used for foreigners working in Indonesia. An EPO is simply a permit to leave the country and there is no stigma attached to it.
"On November 15th, Mr. Cameron was attacked from behind while eating a meal with friends in a Padang restaurant. The assailant was arrested and charged with assault. Mr. Cameron was admitted to hospital with neck injuries and this delayed his departure to Singapore by several days. After paying a standard overstay fee of $20/day, Mr. Cameron was granted an EPO dated Saturday 21st of November. After specialist treatment in Singapore Mr. Cameron returned to Padang traveling on a business visa and he is recovering at home while waiting for his IMTA to be released," Marina said.
"Mr. Cameron's assailant was first charged with assault. After it became clear that he was the source of the documents and allegations defaming Mr. Cameron, he was also charged with criminal defamation over statements that he has made to the media about Mr. Cameron's legal status in Australia.
"We have made our own independent inquiries and we can confirm that Mr. Cameron has no criminal record in Australia or in Indonesia. The man who assaulted Mr. Cameron claims that his PMA company has close ties to some very prominent identities in the Mentawai surf industry. These companies compete with us and they are linked to some of the world's biggest surf apparel companies," Marina said.
"One of Australia's leading surfing community websites recently interviewed Mr. Cameron and asked him about the background of the assault and his role pioneering and building the $20 million Mentawai surf industry over the past 15 years."
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