Authorities in Indonesia have detained 27 foreign nationals in Bekasi for allegedly misusing Investor KITAS by using fake companies as sponsors. The Class I Non-TPI Bekasi Immigration Office led the operation, which was part of an immigration surveillance campaign conducted
from late April to mid-May 2025. Most of the detained individuals held Limited Stay Permits (ITAS) under the E28 visa index, which is designated for foreign investors.
Crackdown in Bekasi Exposes Investor KITAS Abuse
Iman Teguh Adianto, Head of Immigration Supervision and Enforcement at the West Java Ministry of Law and Human Rights, confirmed that the detained foreigners claimed to be investors but had no legitimate investment activities.
“After further investigation, we discovered that the companies sponsoring them were allegedly fictitious. This is a serious misuse of stay permits,” he stated during a press conference in Bekasi on May 20, as reported by Radarbekasi.id.
The 27 foreign nationals faced various violations. Authorities accused 15 of them of providing false information to obtain their stay permits, thus breaching Article 123 of Law No. 6 of 2011 on Immigration. Another 10 violated Article 122 for engaging in activities outside the scope of their visa. Two Nigerian nationals overstayed their permits for more than three years.
Read More: Investor KITAS for Foreign Investors
Legal Violations and Enforcement Details
Authorities carried out enforcement operations at five different locations. These included Grand Kamala Lagoon, Springlake, Kemang View, and Taman Sari apartments in Bekasi City, as well as a company in West Cikarang.
Several foreign nationals resisted arrest and attempted to flee, but officers secured all of them successfully. The Bekasi Immigration Office is currently detaining them for further investigation.
The operation highlights how individuals misuse investor visas to reside in Indonesia illegally. “The modus operandi is to claim to be investors, while in fact, they are not engaging in any legitimate investment activities,” Iman reiterated.
Immigration Sweep Expands with Wira Waspada Operation
Meanwhile, the Wira Waspada operation conducted in Jakarta from May 14 to 16, 2025, extended the immigration crackdown. Officials apprehended 170 foreign nationals from 27 countries. Many came from Nigeria (61 people), Cameroon (27), Pakistan (14), Sierra Leone (12), Ivory Coast (8), and Gambia (8).
Pamuji Raharja, Head of the Jakarta Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, praised the operation’s impact. “The joint operation (Wira Waspada) was very effective. This activity creates a deterrent effect that makes foreigners think twice before entering Indonesia for illegal purposes,” he explained.
The Directorate General of Immigration reported that 25 individuals failed to present valid travel documents, another 25 provided false information, and 24 used fictitious sponsors. Ten were flagged for other violations. Community reports and on-the-ground surveillance initiated the arrests.
Read More: Obtaining Working KITAS Integral for Foreign Workers in Indonesia
Government Action on Investor KITAS Offenders
The Bekasi Immigration Office is coordinating with the Directorate General of Immigration to deport, blacklist, and potentially prosecute the offenders under pro-justitia procedures. “If sufficient evidence is found, the case will be escalated to the investigation stage in accordance with applicable law,” Iman emphasized.
These actions underscore the government’s commitment to protecting the integrity of the Investor KITAS program and enforcing immigration law. Authorities are working to close legal loopholes and prevent future misuse.
Strengthening Oversight on Visa Abuse
Indonesia continues to intensify immigration oversight to protect its legal framework and public order. The recent crackdowns on Investor KITAS misuse in Bekasi and the Wira Waspada operation in Jakarta reflect serious efforts to eliminate visa fraud. Stricter controls and routine joint operations may be key to deterring future abuse and ensuring foreign nationals comply with Indonesian law.
Source: radarbekasi.co.id, mataram.antaranews.com
Image: Getty Images
