Chinese diver stopped at Makassar over alleged sea turtle hunting

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4 hours ago

Makassar, South Sulawesi (ANTARA) – The Makassar Immigration Office in South Sulawesi has arrested a Chinese national for hunting and killing a sea turtle, a protected species in Indonesia, during his excursion in Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua.

The Head of the Makassar Immigration Office, Abdi Widodo Subagio, through an official statement on Tuesday, said the agency has identified the foreign national with the initials WS, who works as a diving instructor.

“The individual was arrested as he was preparing to embark on AirAsia flight AK335 from Makassar to Kuala Lumpur,” he said, adding that the officer arrested WS at the departure area of Sultan Hasanuddin Airport on Monday (Sept 14) afternoon local time.

Subagio confirmed that the action was taken following an official request from the Raja Ampat District Government on Monday, asking the authority to prevent WS from leaving Indonesia.

“The arrest took place safely and orderly without resistance from the individual,” he added.

He said that WS was suspected of hunting a protected leatherback sea turtle using a speargun and damaging the marine environment in the Piaynemo waters, Raja Ampat District, Southwest Papua.

The sea turtle was suspected to have been killed for consumption. Moreover, a photo posted on the social media account @dylan_yuchenzeng, showing the sea turtle cooked in a soup and served at a feast, had also circulated among the public.

According to Subagio, the immigration action was taken to ensure that the legal process against WS could proceed before he returned to his home country.

The Makassar Immigration Office is coordinating with the Raja Ampat District Government, and WS is being held at the Makassar Immigration Office’s facility before being handed over to the Sorong Immigration Office in Southwest Papua for legal proceedings.