BADUNG – A 39-year-old Swiss national identified by the initials BFM has been deported from Bali after being found guilty of conducting an illegal fundraising campaign for stray dogs. His actions sparked public concern and went viral on social media.
“BFM was apprehended by officers on May 20, 2025, due to his involvement in unauthorized fundraising activities for stray dogs, which had caused unrest among local residents,” said Haryo Sakti, Head of the Class I Immigration Office at Ngurah Rai, in an official statement on Wednesday (May 28, 2025).
Authorities confirmed that BFM was staying in Bali on a Visa on Arrival (VoA), which permits foreign nationals to visit Indonesia for tourism purposes only. However, instead of using his stay for tourism, BFM organized a fundraising campaign that violated immigration regulations.
Haryo explained that the fundraising effort, conducted without any registered legal entity in Indonesia, drew widespread attention on social media and triggered negative reactions from the public.
“During the investigation by the Immigration Intelligence and Enforcement Division (Inteldakim), BFM admitted that he entered Indonesia with a tourist visa and carried out the fundraising without establishing a legal foundation,” Haryo stated.
Although immigration authorities have not yet obtained concrete evidence of the collected donations or their usage, BFM’s own admission was deemed sufficient to warrant his deportation. There are suspicions that the funds may have also been used for personal benefit, though this remains unproven.
“There are allegations that some of the collected funds were used for his personal needs. We haven’t verified the donations, as this remains speculative and based on community reports,” Haryo added.
BFM was officially deported on Tuesday (May 27, 2025) at 12:35 a.m. local time and returned to Zurich, Switzerland. In addition, immigration authorities have submitted a request for his inclusion on Indonesia’s blacklist, barring him from reentering the country.
This case underscores the Indonesian government’s ongoing efforts to enforce immigration laws and protect public order from unauthorized foreign activities.