JAKARTA – Indonesia has removed 30 immigration officers from duty at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport following complaints from the Chinese Embassy about extortion targeting Chinese tourists. The embassy’s letter, dated Jan 21, detailed at least 44 cases of extortion involving over 60 Chinese nationals.
In response, Immigration Minister Agus Andrianto announced measures to reduce face-to-face encounters between travelers and officials, including increasing the number of auto-gates at the airport. Warning signs against bribery have also been posted in multiple languages.
Anti-corruption activists and tourism stakeholders have called for stricter supervision and legal action against offenders to prevent further damage to Indonesia’s reputation. The incident follows a similar extortion scandal in December 2024, involving rogue policemen targeting foreign concertgoers.