T

wo immigration officers have been temporarily suspended for allegedly extorting US$2,200 from six Chinese tourists at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, Bali.

'€œWe took stern action against our officers according to regulations. Because it [could spoil] our image in the world,'€ airport immigration office
head Yosep AR Widodo said on Tuesday without giving details on the extortion case.

The crime reportedly occurred on Saturday when the tourists arrived
at the airport. One of the tourists took pictures via his mobile phone while the officers asked for money at one of the airport'€™s immigration check-in counters.

Knowing that their actions had been recorded, the officers chased the tourists into to the airport parking lot, asking them to delete the pictures. The officers also reportedly took money from the handbag of one of the tourists. Their actions were recorded by the airport'€™s CCTV.

The officers reportedly strangled the tourists while asking them to delete the pictures.

Yosep admitted that his officers had asked the tourists to delete the pictures on the mobile phone, but denied that there had been any violence inflicted upon the tourists.

The tourists, who only speak Mandarin, reported the extortion to the airport'€™s police, who then in turn handed over the case to Denpasar Police.

Separately, Denpasar Police spokesman Adj. Comr. Sugriwo said the police were still investigating the case, saying that the alleged perpetrators of extortion could be charged under Article 368 of the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum punishment of nine years in jail.