he Immigration Directorate General has deported a Saudi Arabian citizen identified as MA for harassing a marbut (mosque keeper) in Cisarua, Bogor regency, West Java.
The directorate general’s immigration supervision and enforcement director, Yudi Yusman, said that according to Article 75 of Law No. 6/2011, foreign nationals who disrupted public order could be subject to sanctions ranging from deportation or limitation of their stay permit to the cancellation of their stay permit.
Yuldi said Indonesia’s position as a tourist and business destination not only opened economic opportunities but also increased the frequency of legal violations by foreigners.
“We also encourage citizens to participate in reporting potential violations by foreigners around their residences,” said Yuldi at a press conference in Jakarta on Friday, as quoted by Antara.
The harassment incident took place on Sunday and was recorded in a video that went viral on social media. The incident began when MA refused to remove his footwear at a designated area in Al-Muqsith Mosque. When the marbut reminded him of the rule, the foreigner struck the marbut.
Bogor Immigration Office chief Ruhiyat M. Tolib said the victim and mosque officials had forgiven the perpetrator as part of restorative justice efforts.
Ruhiyat hoped that similar incidents would not occur in the future.
MA was also found to have overstayed his visa, which had expired on Jan. 8. He entered Indonesia with visa on arrival on Dec. 10.
The Bogor Immigration Office, in collaboration with the local police, arrested MA on Tuesday at a villa in Cisarua.
Immigration and Corrections Minister Agus Andrianto said the detention of MA showed the government’s commitment to maintaining public order and upholding the law.
“We remind all foreign citizens in Indonesia to adhere to the law and social norms. Supervision will continue to be strengthened, and synergy with law enforcement will be enhanced,” said Agus, as reported by kompas.com.
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