DENPASAR, Bali – An Australian man died while being held at the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office in Bali on Friday night, Indonesian immigration authorities said. The 39-year-old had been detained over an alleged immigration violation and was awaiting deportation.
The man, identified by his initials CJMH, eceived emergency medical treatment after officers found him unconscious inside the detention facility. He was later pronounced dead while being transported to a nearby hospital, according to immigration officials.
Immigration authorities said they first received information in late March alleging CJMH had violated the conditions of his Indonesian stay permit. Following an investigation, the agency said it found he had violated the conditions of his Indonesian stay permit.
According to the immigration office, CJMH was summoned several times for questioning but did not comply with the requests. Officers detained him at his residence in Jimbaran, Badung Regency, on Friday with the assistance of local community officials before transferring him to the immigration detention facility pending deportation.
While monitoring the detention area through CCTV, officers noticed CJMH had remained inside a restroom without movement for an extended period. They entered the room and found him unconscious.
Officers immediately checked for signs of life, administered first aid, including oxygen support, and requested an ambulance. Medical personnel treated him at the scene before transporting him to Bali Jimbaran General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead during the journey.
The exact cause of death remains under investigation.
Ferry Tri Ardhiansyah, Head of Information Technology and Immigration Communication at the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office, said preliminary findings by the hospital indicated CJMH was suspected of having suffered a heart attack. He emphasized that the cause of death has not been officially confirmed pending further examination.
Following the incident, the immigration office coordinated with Badung Police and South Kuta Police to conduct a crime scene examination as part of the ongoing investigation.
Head of the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office, Bugie Kurniawan, expressed condolences to CJMH’s family and said officers had followed standard operating procedures throughout the detention process. He said staff responded immediately after noticing the detainee had stopped moving on CCTV footage and provided emergency assistance without delay.
The immigration office said it would continue coordinating with police, medical authorities, and representatives of the Australian government as the investigation continues.
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