A

team of officials from immigration, the police and the municipal government carried out random document checks targeting foreigners to verify that none were on the island or working without the required documentation.

The document check took place in various locations throughout the city Monday.

'€œWe have been checking the documentation of foreigners,'€ said head of the municipal Political and National Unity office, I Wayan Sudana. Members of the team apparently found numerous foreigners living and working in Denpasar without the necessary visas and or permits.

In the Kesiman district, the team met with Chung Chan Ho, a Korean native, who operates the clothing company Bali Dewata Polo.

The company was found not have the appropriate business operation license.

Ho argued that the permits were being processed. '€œI don'€™t have anything with me now. I gave all the documents to an agent named Oka to process the business license,'€ said Ho in broken Indonesian.

Sudana said the team had given Ho a chance to complete the required documents. However, should he fail to do so, he would be legally processed and he could be sanctioned.

Bali Dewata Polo was established 10 years ago. Ho has just extended his land lease for a further 10-year period.

Nyoman Kondra, village chief of Banjar Kedaton in Kesiman, said he frequently told Ho to process his business operation license.

'€œHe kept saying '€˜yes'€™ but he doesn'€™t anything,'€ he said.

Ho became an Indonesian citizen in 2008.

The team continued checking documents, targeting unregistered villas in Padang Galak and Sanur, which employ foreign workers.

'€œThere are so many places that do not have permits to operate as tourist accommodation. They also employ unregistered foreign workers,'€ he said, adding that the team would continue to process these matters.

All foreigners working in Denpasar must obtain a work permit and pay a US$100 monthly fee to the mayoralty office.