Indonesian immigration authorities have arrested a United States citizen who had allegedly been evading legal proceedings in his home country for more than 15 years by living under multiple identities in Indonesia.
The Directorate General of Immigration identified the man as AW, also known by the aliases BW, AYW and JW. He was arrested on 23 April 2026 at his residence in Sawangan, Depok, West Java, after an investigation conducted in coordination with the United States Embassy.
Director General of Immigration Hendarsam Marantoko said the agency received a request for assistance from the US Embassy on 5 March 2026 regarding AW’s whereabouts and legal status.
“Following up on this request, we immediately conducted a pre-investigation and a series of intelligence actions, ultimately leading to his arrest on 23 April 2026 in the Sawangan area of Depok,” Hendarsam said in a statement issued to media, on Monday, 8 June 2026.
According to immigration authorities, AW entered Indonesia on 7 November 2011 and allegedly sought to avoid legal proceedings related to a sexual offence case in the United States.
Investigation Began After Report From Wife
The investigation that ultimately led to AW’s arrest began in December 2024 when a woman identified as NM visited the Directorate General of Immigration with her two children.
Hendarsam said NM reported that her Indonesian residence permit had expired approximately five years earlier because her husband had restricted her movements, preventing her from renewing her immigration documents.
According to immigration officials, NM also alleged that she had been subjected to sexual abuse by AW while living in the United States.
“Immigration then facilitated the return of NM and her children to the United States on 7 December 2024,” Hendarsam said.
Following the family’s return, immigration authorities intensified coordination with the US Embassy to establish AW’s background and legal status. During the investigation, officials discovered that he had repeatedly changed his identity during his 15 years in Indonesia.
Authorities found that AW had obtained US citizenship through naturalisation on 4 May 2000 and previously held a US passport that expired in 2010.
Hendarsam said investigators eventually traced AW to a property in Sawangan, Depok, where officers encountered resistance from family members while attempting to carry out the arrest.
“AW was found hiding in a bunker at his house,” he said.
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Deported and Permanently Barred From Indonesia
Immigration authorities stated that AW had committed a number of serious immigration violations, including the use of false identities and the misuse of travel documents, offences regulated under Law No. 6 of 2011 on Immigration.
“The principle of selective policy in Indonesian immigration is consistently implemented,” Hendarsam said.
Following his arrest, AW was subjected to administrative immigration measures, including detention and deportation. Immigration officials confirmed that he was deported on 4 June 2026 under the escort of the US Marshals Service.
The Directorate General of Immigration has also imposed a lifetime entry ban on AW under Ministerial Regulation No. 13 of 2025, preventing him from returning to Indonesia.
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