According to authorities, a Russian national who was caught working illegally on the island of Bali has been deported. The statement came as the province administration announced that they are establishing a specialized task force to crack down on travelers who seek to run enterprises and work illegally in Bali. The 28-year-old Russian citizen is known by his initials, SZ. Despite his visa not allowing employment, he was discovered working illegally as a photographer.
On Tuesday, February 28, Tedy Riyandi, the head of the Immigration Office Class I TPI Denpasar, verified SZ’s deportation to the media. He acknowledged that SZ had violated the terms of his visa when he was discovered in Bali providing photographic services without any official permit which is consider as a illegal worker by the law.
According to Riyandi, SZ planned to start a restaurant and a real estate company, which is why SZ came to Indonesia on an investment visa. But SZ was only permitted to carry out a limited number of business-related activities under the terms of his visa; he was not allowed to engage in a wage-earning activity as a illegal worker.
SZ was detained at his rented home on Jalan Culali in South Batur Village, Kintamani District, in Bangli Regency on February 22, according to Riyandi. Following up on the community complaint, Riyandi stated, “We investigated, and on February 22 at 13:00 WITA, the team from the Intelligence of Immigration Class I TPI Denpasar monitored immigration and identified a foreigner who was believed to be engaged in working illegally as a photographer.”
The Chief of the Immigration Bureau in Denpasar told the media that SZ paid for his deportation airfare. The circumstances that led to SZ’s arrest and the information acquired to support his expulsion as a illegal worker were both corroborated by Riyandi.
He entered on a restricted residency visa for investors and is thought to own a hotel and property investment firm. The business, however, has yet to run. According to Riyandi, SZ is identified as the firm’s director mentioned above. Still, there is adequate proof that he has been illegally working, marketing his skills on social media and is known to have provided photography services in Bali.
SZ was deported on February 28 and is currently prohibited from entering Indonesia for six months; however, this prohibition may be extended. The information was released just hours after Bali government authorities announced the creation of a special task force to find and deport illegal worker from Bali. Officials are addressing the problem head-on after a significant increase in foreigners openly advertising and offering various commercial services in Bali without the necessary visas and licenses.
Leading public figures, including Balinese businesswoman and social justice advocate Ni Luh Djelantik and a public service Instagram account named @moscow cabang Bali, have helped raise awareness of the issue among the general public.
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