Indonesian authorities escort a group detained Taiwan nationals during a press conference at the Immigration Detention Center in Bali, Indonesia, on June 28. - PHOTO: EPA-EFE via The Straits Times/ANN
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia's immigration agency deported 13 Taiwan citizens suspected of serious crimes to face legal proceedings in Taiwan, the directorate general of immigration said in a statement on Friday.
The 13 Taiwanese suspected of taking part in cyber crime, money laundering and drug trafficking were deported on Thursday afternoon, the statement said.
"After a thorough examination by immigration officers, the thirteen foreigners turned out to be perpetrators of serious crimes in Taiwan. They will undergo pro-justice process in Taiwan," director general of immigration Silmy Karim said in the statement.
Last month, the immigration agency arrested 103 Taiwan passport holders, the biggest arrest this year, on suspicion of running a cyber crime operation out of the island of Bali. However, Taiwan has stated that it was informed that only around 14 of its citizens were implicated.
Indonesia's immigration office said Taiwan police were involved in escorting the Taiwanese. The Taipei Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta did not immediately respond to request for comment on Saturday.
(Reporting by Bernadette Christina; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
