《TAIPEI TIMES》 103 Taiwanese detained in Bali cybercrime raid

CROSS-BORDER CRIME: The suspects cannot be charged with cybercrime in Indonesia as their targets were in Malaysia, an Indonesian immigration director said

/ AP, DENPASAR, Indonesia

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Indonesian immigration authorities have detained 103 Taiwanese after a raid at a villa on Bali, officials said yesterday.

They were accused of misusing their visas and residence permits, and are suspected of possible cybercrimes, Safar Muhammad Godam, director of immigration supervision and enforcement at the Indonesian Ministry of Law and Human Rights told reporters at a news conference.

“The 103 foreign nationals stayed at the villa and conducted suspicious activities, which we suspect are activities related to cybercrime activities,” he said, presenting laptops and routers at the news conference.

Godam said Indonesian authorities cannot charge them with conducting cybercrime.

“During the inspection, we know that they are targeting people in Malaysia. They did their activities in Indonesia, but the victims are in other countries, so it is very difficult to fulfill the criminal elements,” Godam said, adding that the 103 would be deported soon.

Immigration authorities conducted the raid on Wednesday at a villa in Kukuh village in Tabanan District and detained 91 men and 12 women.

Computers and cellphones were also seized, they said.

“They are suspected of not having documents and misuse of immigration permits. Currently, the possibility of cybercrime is being investigated based on the number of computers and cellphones found at the scene,” Indonesian Immigration Director-General Silmy Karim said in a statement on Thursday.

Authorities distributed photographs showing dozens of detainees lying on their stomachs next to a swimming pool and the three-story villa.

All are being held at a detention center in Denpasar, Bali, officials said.

Authorities said they are investigating whether the group might have ties to international syndicates.

The Indonesian Directorate-General of Immigration plans to carry out another joint operation to monitor foreign nationals in Bali. It aims to ensure that foreigners are staying on the island in accordance with regulations, and to maintain order and security.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that Taiwan would send consular staff to Bali and has asked Indonesia to send the suspects back to Taiwan as soon as the investigation is complete.

Reuters could not immediately contact legal representatives of the arrested Taiwanese.

Additional reporting by Reuters

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES