Indonesia arrests more than 100 Taiwanese for alleged cyber fraud

Indonesian police arrest over 100 Taiwanese in Bali for cyber fraud targeting Malaysians, facing deportation.

“Indonesian police have arrested more than 100 Taiwanese at a villa in Bali over alleged cyber fraud,” authorities said on June 28.

The proliferation of cyber fraud groups in Southeast Asia has become a growing concern in recent years and authorities in countries including China, Indonesia and Malaysia have stepped up efforts to stop them.

Bali immigration authorities said that after a tip-off from Indonesian police, they raided the villa in Tabanan Regency on June 26, where the group of 12 women and 91 men was found with hundreds of mobile phones and other electronic devices.

“They were accused of abusing immigration permits and conducting online scams targeting Malaysians,” Indonesian immigration official Safar Muhammad Godam said.

He added that officials could not charge them because the alleged crimes fell outside their jurisdiction, but were "closely working together" with related authorities, including those in Malaysia.

"Their activities target individuals outside the country, making it very difficult to meet the elements of a criminal offence in such cases," Mr. Godam said in a press conference.

“They are subject to administrative immigration actions. In the near future, we will proceed with deporting all of the 103 foreign nationals. They are currently being held at an immigration detention centre in Bali for further questioning,” he added.