The Jakarta Post, August 03, 2006
Immigration deports 5 Saudis in marriage scandal
Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor
The Bogor Immigration Office deported Wednesday five of seven Saudi Arabian
nationals arrested on Monday for misusing their visas by entering into short-term
marriages with local women.
The officials said the five held temporary visit visas but had married women in the
Puncak resort in a short-term arrangement locally known as kawin kontrak.
"We sent them home because we have evidence they violated the 1974 Marriage Law
and the immigration law," said immigration office head Suharyanto.
The men were identified as Sulaeman Saud A Altraigi, Saad Mousa A Alshamrani,
Abdul Rahman Awad A Alshamrani, Mohamad Abdulah Al Muhana and Falleh bin
Nghaimesh bin Mahana Al Harbi.
He did not reveal the status of the two others still detained by the immigration office.
"This country forbids people to engage in contractual marriages, which I'm sure is the
same as in their country of origin. Moreover, they have misused their tourist visas by
getting married instead of just spending their time on vacation," Suharyanto added.
He said that his team, with the help of the Bogor Police, arrested the men along with
their spouses in three villas in Puncak.
The Bogor authorities will continue crackdowns against the practice of foreigners
marrying local women to legitimize the short-term sexual relationships, which mostly
occur Tugu Utara and Tugu Selatan areas, Cisarua district. Women's right activists
argue the relationships are a form of legalized prostitution.
"We will hold a regular operation at residential areas, especially during the holiday
season from June to August when most tourists come to stay. I know it's not easy to
eliminate contractual marriage practices because it has been going on for quite some
time and is seemingly protected by locals," Suharyanto said.
Bogor Police chief Sr. Comr. Sukrawardi Dahlan also said the authorities would
monitor hotels and villas frequented by foreign tourists.
"The business of marriage in that area has become a deep-rooted culture for the
people there," he said.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Saudi Arabian Embassy press secretary Muhammad
Justaniah could not be reached for comment.
Vice President Jusuf [Moron] Kalla, in off-the-cuff remarks at a recent seminar on
tourism to the Middle East, referred to the practice of the short-term marriages. He
said there were benefits gained by the local community, including in improved welfare
to the women's families and good-looking offspring from the unions.
Although he later clarified his remarks were not serious, they were condemned as
inappropriate by women's rights activists and legislators. (03)
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