The Batam Immigration Office in Riau Islands province is considering slapping criminal charges on two Britons for making a documentary about piracy on the Malacca Strait without proper documents.
The office earlier planned to deport the two, but it later received instructions to file the charges after news of the case reached high-ranking officials in Jakarta, according to the Batam Immigration Office supervision and enforcement head, Rafli.
"This case has reach high-ranking folks in Jakarta. So we are waiting for confirmation to file criminal charges," Rafli told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
The two Britons have been identified as Neil Bonner, 31, and Becky Prosser, 30. They are currently being held at the immigration detention center.
According to Rafli, if found guilty, they could face more than two years in prison for making the documentary without a license or more than three years for immigration violations.
Brits to face criminal charges for making illegal documentary | The Jakarta Post
The office earlier planned to deport the two, but it later received instructions to file the charges after news of the case reached high-ranking officials in Jakarta, according to the Batam Immigration Office supervision and enforcement head, Rafli.
"This case has reach high-ranking folks in Jakarta. So we are waiting for confirmation to file criminal charges," Rafli told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
The two Britons have been identified as Neil Bonner, 31, and Becky Prosser, 30. They are currently being held at the immigration detention center.
According to Rafli, if found guilty, they could face more than two years in prison for making the documentary without a license or more than three years for immigration violations.
Brits to face criminal charges for making illegal documentary | The Jakarta Post