BALINEWSID.COM, BADUNG – The Ngurah Rai Immigration Office is continuing to monitor the legal proceedings against a 30-year-old Chinese national identified by the initials C.H., who is allegedly accused of using a counterfeit Malaysian passport to enter Indonesia through I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali.

C.H. was detained by immigration officers on Thursday, March 12, 2026, after arriving at the international arrivals terminal on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Denpasar.

During immigration inspection, officers became suspicious of the authenticity of the Malaysian passport presented by C.H. Further examination found that he was also carrying a Chinese passport, which was allegedly an authentic travel document.

To verify the validity of the documents, the Directorate General of Immigration, through its Immigration Forensic Laboratory, conducted a forensic examination on April 20, 2026.

The examination concluded that the Malaysian passport used by C.H. was counterfeit. The finding was further supported by an official letter from the Embassy of Malaysia confirming that C.H. was not a Malaysian citizen.

Following the findings, Immigration Civil Servant Investigators (PPNS) launched an investigation. After obtaining sufficient evidence, investigators named C.H. a suspect on May 7, 2026, over alleged immigration offenses under Article 119 paragraph (2) of Law No. 6 of 2011 on Immigration, in conjunction with Appendix I Number 83 of Law No. 1 of 2026 concerning Criminal Adjustments.

The provision carries criminal penalties for the use of travel documents that a person knows or reasonably should suspect are counterfeit.

The investigation file was declared complete, or P21, by the Badung District Attorney’s Office on June 11, 2026.

The case was subsequently brought before the Denpasar District Court, with the first hearing held on July 28, 2026. As of September 1, 2026, the trial had entered its fourth hearing.

Head of the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office, Muhamad Novyandri, said his office would continue to monitor and accompany the proceedings until a final and legally binding court decision is issued.

Ngurah Rai Immigration is also coordinating with the Bali Police’s PPNS Supervisory Coordinator, the Badung District Attorney’s Office, and the Denpasar District Court to support the smooth handling of the case.

The case highlights the immigration authorities’ efforts to enforce immigration laws in Bali, particularly in preventing the misuse of travel documents.

Ngurah Rai Immigration said strict scrutiny of travel documents is an important part of protecting Indonesia’s sovereignty and ensuring that all foreign nationals entering the country comply with applicable immigration regulations.