Indonesia weighs criminal case over alleged Raja Ampat turtle hunting
Immigration officials and police in Southwest Papua are coordinating over potential criminal action against Chinese national WS, detained in Makassar and transferred to Sorong after allegations of hunting a protected sea turtle in Raja…
Editor: Mursyid Sonsang
· 4 min read
Sorong — Indonesia’s immigration authorities say criminal sanctions are being considered against a Chinese national identified as WS, who was detained over allegations of hunting a protected sea turtle in the Raja Ampat marine tourism area and prevented from flying out of the country.
Immigration Director General Hendarsam Marantoko said officials are coordinating with police to determine whether the case should proceed under immigration offences, wildlife conservation laws, or both, according to statements reported by national broadcasters and online media on 16–20 September 2026.
Authorities have not announced formal charges, and WS remains under investigation. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty through the legal process.
Detention and transfer to Sorong
Multiple Indonesian outlets report that immigration officers in Makassar intercepted WS, also identified as Wei Shang or Wilson Shang, at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport on Monday, 14 September 2026, as he was preparing to board an AirAsia flight to Kuala Lumpur.
Officials acted after the Raja Ampat regency administration requested that immigration prevent him from leaving Indonesia while the alleged wildlife offence was investigated, according to statements by Makassar immigration officials cited by local media.
WS was subsequently handed over to the immigration office in Sorong, Southwest Papua, on 16 September for further questioning and coordination with police and the Raja Ampat authorities.
Immigration and police investigation
Hendarsam told reporters that his office had previously placed WS on a “subject of interest” list, allowing officers to monitor his movements through immigration systems. He said the case could involve criminal provisions in the immigration law as well as Indonesia’s legislation on the conservation of biological natural resources and their ecosystems.
Indonesian media have reported that WS is a certified freediving instructor, and that an international training organisation had issued an instructor-trainer membership card in his name, valid through 2025. The organisation has publicly responded to the case and said it is reviewing his status, according to specialist diving media.
Immigration authorities have stated that foreigners who violate Indonesian rules, particularly by damaging the environment or threatening protected wildlife, will face firm sanctions, and that the case is being handled in coordination with police and local government.
Alleged turtle hunting in Raja Ampat
Police and regional officials say the alleged incident took place between 8 and 11 September 2026 in the Fam Islands area of Raja Ampat, also known locally as the Pam Islands, a popular marine tourism destination renowned for coral reefs and marine biodiversity.
Reports compiled from Indonesian and regional outlets indicate that investigators are examining allegations that a diver used a speargun while freediving to hunt a sea turtle in the Piaynemo or Fam Islands area, and that the animal was later taken to a local homestay and consumed.
According to these reports, the case came to light after video and photographs spread on social media showing a diver aiming a speargun at a turtle, followed by images of a turtle being carried ashore and prepared for food. Police have said they are assessing electronic evidence, physical exhibits and witness testimony.
Key dates and facts reported by authorities
- 8–11 September 2026: Police and regional officials say the alleged spearfishing incident occurred in the Fam/Pam Islands area of Raja Ampat.
- 14 September 2026: Immigration officers at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport, Makassar, detained WS as he was about to board a flight to Kuala Lumpur, after a request from the Raja Ampat regency government.
- 16 September 2026: WS was transferred to Sorong Immigration for further examination and coordination with police.
- 16–20 September 2026: The Director General of Immigration and other officials made public statements indicating that criminal proceedings, including possible immigration and wildlife-conservation charges, are under consideration.
Protected species and legal context
Indonesian outlets have reported that the animal involved was believed to be a hawksbill sea turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata, a species listed as protected under Indonesian law and international conservation agreements.
Environmental and legal commentators quoted in regional media note that hunting, killing or consuming protected marine species can carry significant penalties under Indonesia’s conservation statutes, including potential prison terms, and that the case has heightened scrutiny of visitor behaviour in Raja Ampat’s environmentally sensitive waters.
Police in Southwest Papua and immigration authorities say WS will remain under investigation in Sorong while they complete their inquiries, gather evidence and determine the appropriate legal framework for any further action.
Sources
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