General Chat edition: Can I holiday in Indonesia with a Criminal Record?

[Keith H]

MOD NOTE: This thread has been copied, in its entirety (up to post 46 as this is being written), from the Visas, Permits, and Immigration subforum. The original thread will be left in place with the factual answers given, once the posts that are inappropriate to the subforum have been cleaned out.

We decided to move the thread, rather than simply get rid of the posts that didn’t belong in the Visas subforum, because the comments and discussion that the OP’s question generated address some interesting issues. The conversation can continue here if members want to keep chatting, with the caveat that this is NOT the Cage and everyone is expected to follow the posting guidelines. (The mods considered moving this thread into the Cage rather than General Chat, but for now are leaving it in the open forum so non-Cagers can read and participate.)

Please note, Scooter’s post (#11) is a clear violation of the PG but has been left in the interests of transparency. Posters are reminded that if you wish to post in a similar fashion, you should start/contribute to a Cage thread.

Hi there, I am a gay guy, and as such got an internet (only) addiction to looking at guys, this lead to me looking at teen boys, and then 3 years a go a visit from the police. I am totally clean now of this awful compulsion and I want to stress that it was only an internet problem. Anyway, I am now on the Sexual offenders register (SOR) and as such are banned from visiting many Asian countries. I have always love seeing different cultures and travelling to experience the food, meet the people in cheaper less developed countries. Sadly these countries also experience a lot of child abuse, which is horrendous. Sadly for me there is no leeway as the countries take no risks. I understand that.

In the future I would like to travel in Indonesia. There is no visa requirement for us Brits and I am told by my PPU officer that I can travel to Indonesia. However, I visited my Filipino bf last February, only to be refused entry just 8 weeks later when I wanted to celebrate his birthday. This was the worst experience of my life, and now I am very cautious when travelling.

I am a good person, so can anyone tell me the situation if I ever wanted to explore Indonesia?

 

[atlantis]

Hi Keith H,

Thanks for being upfront and coming clean about your past in your post.

As a matter of fact several foreigners have been denied entry to Indonesia in a recent past for having prior convictions for sexual offenses in their respective countries. It is in fact a duty of Indonesian Immigration officer to systematically deny entry to whoever being registered for having participated in any network encouraging prostitution practicces or activities, human trafficking or people smuggling. This is in line with art. 13 UU 6/2011 ttg keimigrasian (Immigration Act).

Just last August, in my city's airport, an American citizen has been sent back home upon arrival for a sexual criminal offense having occurred almost two decades ago. He arrived at.1.35 pm and was sent back by the same plane to S'pore an hour later only. Immigration officers were waiting for him at the door of the plane and immediately took care of him, which implies that before arrival they were already fully aware of his former conviction.

In further interviews with our local medias, Immigration officers stated that they were aware of it because they screened the DitJenIm database, as they do for every international flight and got the information thanks to the cooperation between Indonesia and foreign governments.

I would advise you not to come to Indonesia.

For the record, full name, pictures of the American guy, interview and full details of the conviction have been widely communicated by the Indonesian local and national medias at the time they refused him entry. I guess that the guy didn't realize that it would make a 20 years old story coming up to the surface and now available to anyone checking his name. This is a risk you also should ponder.

This is far from being an isolated case. Routinely, Imigrasi refuses entry to foreigners and systematically screen the name and details of passengers on international flights.

 

[snpark]

Who refused you entry? Immigration in :Manila?
If so, then it is likely you are on a watch list so yes most likely you will be refused entry here too

Lot of red warning flags I'm afraid
Maybe Asia isn't the best destination in all due circumstances. Europe and USA also has nice culture

BTW not sure I understand your opening sentence? "Hi there, I am a gay guy, and as such got an internet (only) addiction to looking at guys"

Did you get the addiction because you are a gay guy? I am confused

But to answer you, yes most likely you would be on a global watch list, especially if you are looking to come to Asian countries under the circumstances. I would suggest also that temptation might be too much for you to do something you regret, especially in Indonesia which can be very strict and unwelcoming for gays. Just an honest opinion, for you to be aware of the culture and society here (plus the antiquated laws / religious groups etc)

 

[snpark]

Atlantis seems we both replied same time

 

[Puspawarna]

BTW not sure I understand your opening sentence? "Hi there, I am a gay guy, and as such got an internet (only) addiction to looking at guys"

Did you get the addiction because you are a gay guy? I am confused

Thanks for pointing this out, snpark. While I have compassion for the OP (surely no one in their right mind would want to be attracted to underage kids), it is wrong to imply a connection between being gay and pedophiliac tendencies. The vast majority of gays have age-appropriate attractions and relationships, just like straight people. As for pedophiles, some are attracted to boys, some to girls, some to both.

Gay people face enough discrimination without adding to the false belief that they are intrinsically child abusers.

 

[lifelongexpat]

I wouldn't try Ghana either...

 

[snpark]

I have always love seeing different cultures and travelling to ...meet the people in cheaper less developed countries.

Hhhhmmmmm
Cheaper??
And yes, there is irony on both sides of that sentence

 

[Keith H]

Hi Keith H,

Thanks for being upfront and coming clean about your past in your post.

As a matter of fact several foreigners have been denied entry to Indonesia in a recent past for having prior convictions for sexual offenses in their respective countries. It is in fact a duty of Indonesian Immigration officer to systematically deny entry to whoever being registered for having participated in any network encouraging prostitution practicces or activities, human trafficking or people smuggling. This is in line with art. 13 UU 6/2011 ttg keimigrasian (Immigration Act).

Just last August, in my city's airport, an American citizen has been sent back home upon arrival for a sexual criminal offense having occurred almost two decades ago. He arrived at.1.35 pm and was sent back by the same plane to S'pore an hour later only. Immigration officers were waiting for him at the door of the plane and immediately took care of him, which implies that before arrival they were already fully aware of his former conviction.

In further interviews with our local medias, Immigration officers stated that they were aware of it because they screened the DitJenIm database, as they do for every international flight and got the information thanks to the cooperation between Indonesia and foreign governments.

I would advise you not to come to Indonesia.

For the record, full name, pictures of the American guy, interview and full details of the conviction have been widely communicated by the Indonesian local and national medias at the time they refused him entry. I guess that the guy didn't realize that it would make a 20 years old story coming up to the surface and now available to anyone checking his name. This is a risk you also should ponder.

This is far from being an isolated case. Routinely, Imigrasi refuses entry to foreigners and systematically screen the name and details of passengers on international flights.

That is exactly the type of information I wanted, so I really appreciate it. My offence was only an internet one, but it seems the fear that someone with the history such as mine, is over-stated, but then again I understand not everyone is like me, and children should be protected from these evil predators.

 

[Keith H]

Who refused you entry? Immigration in :Manila?
If so, then it is likely you are on a watch list so yes most likely you will be refused entry here too

Lot of red warning flags I'm afraid
Maybe Asia isn't the best destination in all due circumstances. Europe and USA also has nice culture

BTW not sure I understand your opening sentence? "Hi there, I am a gay guy, and as such got an internet (only) addiction to looking at guys"

Did you get the addiction because you are a gay guy? I am confused

But to answer you, yes most likely you would be on a global watch list, especially if you are looking to come to Asian countries under the circumstances. I would suggest also that temptation might be too much for you to do something you regret, especially in Indonesia which can be very strict and unwelcoming for gays. Just an honest opinion, for you to be aware of the culture and society here (plus the antiquated laws / religious groups etc)

Thank you for your reply. I was trying to explain that as a gay guy I just got drawn into teenage guys through Twitter, but as I am sure many people who look at porn, it can become very addictive. I fully understand now how dangerous pornography be to peoples lives and relationships, and I thanked the police when they visited me. I now have no interest whatsoever on any porn, and feel so much better for it. So I made a mistake, and the ratifications have been that my gay friends in the Philippines and Malaysia are now out of reach. Besides visiting my daughter in New Zealand (and that is not straight forward) I will holiday in Europe. Such a hard thing to live with as I am treated as if I am a hardened criminal. That's part of my punishment.

 

[snpark]

No harm or offence intended, we all just being straight to the point about "risks" etc here

At least you are frank and honest about your situation

 

[Scooterindo]

Keith H - fuck off you nonce. The fact you are on the sexual offenders register is because the "boys" you were so compelled to look at were below the age of 16. So don't come here with your "woe is me" sob story.

 

[Anglian]

Once a peodo always a one, I don’t believe a word you are cured for one minute

 

[brian@bekasi]

Keith H - fuck off you nonce. The fact you are on the sexual offenders register is because the "boys" you were so compelled to look at were below the age of 16. So don't come here with your "woe is me" sob story.

Thank you finally someone with the "guts" to say what I was thinking. I reported the first post as inappropriate hoping the mediators would delete. Instead we have had some "polite" responses to the post.

There is no place on this or any other forum for a Pedhopile and a definite no to questions about asian travel.

I checked this bloke out on the register when he first posted and the judge gave him a fairly long term on the register.

The bloke made life choices and the "grub" deserves to be banned from all countries.

Not into controversial comments but make an exception in this case.

 

[Puspawarna]

MODDING: Can we knock off the recreational outrage, please? Keith H has not signed in to this forum for a month now. He got his answer and probably won't be seen again.

This is the laws and visas subforum, not the Cage. If you want to share your views on how pedophilia is bad, you know where to go.

 

[brian@bekasi]

MODDING: Can we knock off the recreational outrage, please? Keith H has not signed in to this forum for a month now. He got his answer and probably won't be seen again.

This is the laws and visas subforum, not the Cage. If you want to share your views on how pedophilia is bad, you know where to go.

My comments are not "recreational outrage" and I take offence at the suggestions. In fact your response is the reason I don't submit controversial posts or comment on subjects I have no knowledge. However, I have personal experience with the subject and hence my post.

Recreational outrage is defined as "Getting mad and venting about political, religious, racial, or other topics and venting about them to the point at which it becomes a hobby". Controversial comments are not my hobby far, from it.

I have personal experience with the subject and it is offensive

I did the right thing and reported the post the day it was posted and got no response. It appears that it is fine for a moderator to comment when a post is made but not respond to a complaint at the beginning of a thread.

Also noting that I am not a cager.

 

[steveandpenny]

Any flight in the states when you use a passport your criminal record pops up right away. The process is then passed to your point of entry of what ever country you are going to and it' up to their imagrations to decide on weather it' a problem or not. Unlike some countries the u.s. justice system is set up for punishment not rehabilitation.
So don' be surprised if you are stopped at custom and have your bags checked if you were arrested 10 years ago for a minor drug charge. Same goes for sexual related crimes.
Just keep in mind it isn' your right to enter any country just because you come from a privileged place.

 

[Anglian]

Like Brian I have experience of these obnoxious dregs, my young daughter was targeted by a pedo teacher fortunately, it was nipped in the bud before it started and the teacher was sacked, people are far too forgiving who haven’t been involved, I say no more as the person concerned isnt worth my time

 

[steveandpenny]

And u guys bitch and moan a month after the guy posted his question....Hope it made you feel better.

 

[Anglian]

And u guys bitch and moan a month after the guy posted his question....Hope it made you feel better.

Yes it did, I don’t read every post perhaps I missed this one,minor drug offices etc, no problem, sex of fences, no way, so if some sexually assaulted your child you would be quite happy for him to travel round the world assaulting kids

 

[brian@bekasi]

And u guys bitch and moan a month after the guy posted his question....Hope it made you feel better.

Read my response please. I reported the original post as inappropriate and in that report stated that the thread could "open a can of worms".