Australian tour operator Rick Lochiel Cameron will on Monday be deported by the Padang Immigration Office, West Sumatra, for staying in the country on expired documents.

Demmy Sarwa, head of the immigration office, said Cameron's temporary stay permit (KITAS) expired on Saturday and he should have applied for a new one a month ago.

"But to date, he hasn't done so. He will have no time to do so because our office is closed on weekends," Demmy told The Jakarta Post on Friday afternoon.

He added his office had sent a letter on Nov. 3 regarding the matter to PT Mentawai Wisata Bahari, the company where Cameron worked as marketing manager, but received no response.

"Three days ago, the company tried to apply (for a KITAS for Cameron) but failed to submit the IMTA (license to employ a foreign worker) from the provincial manpower agency," Demmy said.

An IMTA is a prerequisite for the issuance of a KITAS.

Cameron is allegedly involved in a bankruptcy case in his home country that has seen the Australian government seize A$1 million of his assets. A deadline has reportedly been set for him to settle the case by 2010 at the latest.

Responding to the report, Demmy said his office had acknowledged the case through an e-mail sent by the Australian government.

But he denied it had anything to do with his office's plan to deport Cameron. "This is purely an administrative matter regarding the extension of his stay permit," he stressed.

Mentawai Wisata Bahari general manager Rita Marina said the company had failed to apply for the new KITAS for Cameron earlier because the provincial manpower office had yet to issue the IMTA.

"I just don't understand why. It's usually a smooth process," Rita said.

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