Prosecutors in Denpasar announced the arrest of four Indonesians on the 15th of March in connection with a recent scandal involving the issuance of national ID cards (KTP) to two foreign nationals.
The suspects from Indonesia were identified only by their initials: IWS, IKS, NKM, and PNP. The two foreigners arrested were KR, a Ukrainian, and MNZ, a Syrian. IWS was the village head in South Denpasar, while IKS worked part-time at the district office in North Denpasar. The middlemen who connected KR and MNZ to IWS and IKS were identified as NKM and PNP.
Rudy Hartono of the Denpasar District Attorney’s Office (Kejari) revealed the suspects’ roles. He claims that NKM introduced MNZ to IWS, PNP, and IKS. “To assist in the preparation of ID cards, family cards, and birth certificates,” he explained at the Prosecutor’s Office in Denpasar.
Rudy described the suspects’ methods of operation. After reaching an agreement, IKS and IWS assisted in filling out the necessary forms for obtaining a national ID and family card. IKS and IWS upload all foreigners’ complete documents to the Taring Dukcapil Denpasar application.
MNZ received a national ID, family card, and birth certificate in the name of Agung Nizar Santoso in November 2022. Meanwhile, RK was given a birth certificate under the name Alexandre Nur Rudi, according to Rudy.
The Syrian man, as previously reported, used the fictitious Indonesian name Agung Nizar Santoso on his national ID, while the Ukrainian identified himself as Alexandre Nur Rudi. MNZ and KR reportedly had national IDs, a family card (KK), and local ATM cards, and were in the process of applying for tax identification numbers (NPWP).
MNZ reportedly told authorities that he had paid IDR 15 million (US$973) for proof of citizenship, including birth certificates, while KR paid IDR 31 million (US$2,012) for his.
MNZ stated that he needed the national ID in order to open an Indonesian bank account, whereas KR stated that he needed the national ID card in order to stay in Indonesia for an extended period of time and escape the war in his home country.
As a result, KR, whose national ID name is Alexandre Nur Rudi, is threatened with being charged under Article 263 paragraph (2) of the Criminal Code (KUHP) with a maximum penalty of six years in prison. Meanwhile, it is unknown what charges the other suspects will face.
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