DEPOK IMMIGRATION DEPORTS FIVE PAKISTANIS

Depok, W Java, July 14 (ANTARA) - The immigration office in Depok, West Java, has deported five Pakistanis believed to be victims of human trafficking.

"Following the case, we are now tightening issuance of permits for foreigners to stay in Depok," the head of the immigration office, Edward Robert Silitonga, said here on Tuesday.

The five Pakistanis were identified as Anwar Ali (20), Abdul Rashid (27), Nadir Ali (29), Maisain Hussain (20), and Syed Ali Shah (27).

They were deported after being held for five days at the office.

Edward said the immigration office held them following information from a bank.

He said suspicious bank officials had reported them to the immigration office while they were cashing cheques at the bank totaling US$12,000.

Upon questioning it was discovered that they were planning to leave for Australia and were using Depok as a transit point en route to their destination.

It was suspected the Pakistanis would become victims of human traffickers in a third country and take an illegal sea route.

Edward said the Pakistanis carried visit visas from Malaysia. "We held them because we don't want to be blamed if we let them go," he said.

To prevent recurrences, he said, his office had tightened issuance of permits to stay in Depok for foreigners.