Comments: Four American dentists deported

Meulaboh Immigration Office in the Aceh regency of West Aceh has deported four US dentists for misusing their tourist visas. Immigration officer Suryo Santoso said Thursday the four dentists arrived in West Aceh on Thursday last week.

Instead of enjoying their holiday, the dentists opened free medical services for about a week in the Buddha Tzu Chi housing complex in Meureubo district, he added.

The four dentists are identified as Steven Kyle Cromwell, 50, of Missisippi, William Clinton Sasser, 67, of Alabama, John Zechariah Thobaben, 30, of Connecticut and Michael Lee Fredman, 44, of Missouri.

"They will be banned from visiting Indonesia for a year in accordance with the immigration law," said Suryo as quoted by tempointeraktif.com.

Your comments:
Deported for offering free dental care? The government should thank them, not deport them.

Vanu
Jakarta

They were deported for providing free dental services. A strange way to say thank you.

BT
Kuala Lumpur

I quote:..... "Instead of enjoying their holiday, the dentists opened free medical services for about a week."....

Whilst I understand that rules are rules, these guys were presumably trying to help poor people, which to most in Indonesia, and almost certainly those working in immigration, is a completely alien concept. Would a warning have not been more appropriate?

Denni Hooping
Jakarta

Let me get this right, immigration deports four dentists for giving free treatment to poor people. They obviously didn't payoff the right people, it's a cruel world.

Pakpeter
Kuta, Bali