Malaysian National Facing Charges After Eight-Year Overstay in Pacitan

RRI.CO.ID, Ponorogo - Authorities from the Class II Non-TPI Ponorogo Immigration Office in East Java have detained a 56-year-old Malaysian national following the discovery of an immigration violation spanning nearly eight years. The individual, identified as MZ, was apprehended in Pacitan Regency, after his attempt to register a marriage raised red flags with local officials.

The investigation was initiated after the Donorojo Religious Affairs Office (KUA), Pacitan Regency reported discrepancies in marriage documents submitted by the suspect.

"It started with a report from the Pacitan KUA on January 9, and we subsequently conducted an investigation until the stay permit violation was uncovered," said Head of the Ponorogo Immigration Office, Anggoro Widy Utomo, on Thursday, April 9, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Records indicate that MZ last entered Indonesia through Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on August 11, 2018, utilizing a visa-free visit facility. Although his legal stay expired on September 9, 2018, he failed to renew his permit or maintain valid travel documents.

Beyond the overstay, investigators uncovered a web of deception regarding his marital status. In his attempt to marry a woman from Pacitan, MZ allegedly claimed to be a widower, despite still being legally married to a woman in Salatiga, Central Java.

Further scrutiny revealed that the suspect likely forged a marriage permit from the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta to facilitate the union. "The person concerned listed his status as a widower, even though he was still bound in marriage to a woman in Salatiga," Anggoro remarked.

The suspect also allegedly presented a falsified permission letter for marriage outside Malaysian territory.

Immigration investigators officially named MZ a suspect on February 13, 2026. He now faces serious legal consequences under Article 119, Paragraph (1) of Law Number 6/2011 concerning Immigration. If convicted, he faces a maximum prison sentence of five years and a fine of up to Rp500 million. The case files have since been transferred to the Pacitan District Attorney's Office for further legal proceedings. ***