Antara News·Indonesia·Saturday, September 19, 2026 at 12:44 PM

Indonesia may pursue criminal charges over suspected turtle hunting

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Ricky P, Rahmad Nasution

Bandung Barat, W Java (ANTARA) - Indonesia's immigration authorities may pursue criminal charges against a foreign national identified as WS over suspected turtle hunting in Raja Ampat waters, rather than imposing only administrative immigration sanctions.

Immigration Director General Hendarsam Marantoko said authorities were coordinating with police to determine the appropriate legal framework for the case.

"We will coordinate with the police to determine the appropriate formulation. In principle, we will examine it, and it appears the case should enter the criminal sphere," Hendarsam said here Friday.

He said authorities would consider immigration criminal provisions as well as laws governing the conservation of biological natural resources and their ecosystems.

Hendarsam said immigration authorities had previously placed the foreign national on a subject-of-interest list, allowing officials to monitor his movements through the immigration system.

WS was detained by immigration officers at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Monday, September 14, while preparing to fly to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

"We put him on the subject-of-interest list and monitored his movements through our SPPI application. When he tried to leave Makassar, immigration officers detained him and took him to Sorong Immigration Office for investigation," he said.

WS was then taken to Sorong, Southwest Papua, for further questioning over suspected hunting of protected wildlife in Raja Ampat waters.

Immigration records show WS entered Indonesia using a visa on arrival (VoA) for tourism.

WS was identified as Wei Shang and holds a membership card from AIDA International, a global organization for freediving.

The card identifies WS as an instructor trainer, with the membership valid through 2025.

The case emerged after a video circulated on social media showing a diver apparently spearfishing what appeared to be a turtle in Raja Ampat waters.

Police previously said they were investigating suspected criminal offenses involving the hunting and killing of protected wildlife.

Southwest Papua police said the incident allegedly occurred around the Pam Islands, also known as the Fam Islands, in Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua Province, from September 8 to 11, 2026.

WS was detained by Makassar immigration authorities after the Raja Ampat district government requested that he be prevented from leaving Indonesia to allow law enforcement proceedings to continue.

Hendarsam said on Tuesday that foreigners who violate Indonesian regulations, particularly by damaging or disrupting the conservation of nature and wildlife, must face appropriate sanctions.

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