Four Japanese Men Arrested in Papua for Immigration Violations

Jakarta, MINA — A court in Indonesia’s easternmost province of Papua sentenced four Japanese on Wednesday to 5.5 months in jail for immigration violations and ordered them to pay a fine, Kyodo reported.

The four men, all in their 50s, have been detained since June when they were arrested in a massive raid of some companies in the province’s Nabire Regency in which 33 other foreigners were taken into custody.

According to immigration officials, the four were working for Jakarta-based gold mining company PT Nur Alam International, which apparently has a gold mine in the area.

A judicial panel at the Nabire District Court found the defendants guilty of violating the country’s immigration law by misusing their limited stay permits and tourist visas for working.

They were each fined 10 million rupiah (about $685). (T/RS5/RS1)