BADUNG, Bali — Bali immigration authorities have released a detailed timeline surrounding the death of an Australian man who collapsed while being held at the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office, saying officers responded immediately after noticing he had stopped moving inside the detention facility.
The case has attracted widespread attention in Indonesia and Australia after the 39-year-old Australian national, identified by his initials CJMH, died on Friday while awaiting deportation for alleged immigration violations.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Ngurah Rai Immigration Office Chief Bugie Kurniawan expressed condolences to the man’s family and outlined the sequence of events leading up to his death.
According to immigration officials, the Australian had been placed in temporary immigration detention earlier that day after investigators concluded he had violated the conditions of his Indonesian stay.
Investigation Began Months Earlier
Immigration authorities said the case began in late March, when they received reports from members of the public alleging that CJMH had been misusing his Indonesian stay permit.
Officials said they subsequently conducted an investigation and invited him several times to clarify his immigration status.
After concluding that immigration violations had occurred, authorities said they repeatedly gave him opportunities to resolve the matter voluntarily.
According to the immigration office, he failed to respond to multiple official summons.
On Friday morning, officers accompanied by representatives of the local community collected CJMH from his residence in Jimbaran before transferring him to the detention facility to await deportation procedures.
Officers Responded After CCTV Raised Concerns
Immigration officials said officers carried out routine welfare checks throughout the day.
During one of those inspections, personnel monitoring CCTV noticed that the detainee had remained inside the restroom for an unusually long period without any visible movement.
Officers immediately entered the area and found him unconscious.
“They went directly to the location after observing the unusual situation through CCTV,” Kurniawan said.
Staff immediately assessed his condition, administered first aid, provided oxygen, and called emergency medical services.
Paramedics later arrived and continued emergency treatment before transporting him to Bali Jimbaran General Hospital.
Authorities said the Australian was pronounced dead while being transported to hospital.
Preliminary Medical Findings
According to immigration officials, an initial medical examination indicated that a suspected heart attack may have been a contributing factor in the incident.
Police have since processed the scene, while the final determination regarding the cause of death will be made by investigators and medical authorities.
Immigration officials stressed that the investigation remains under the jurisdiction of police and healthcare professionals.
Authorities Emphasize Transparency
Kurniawan said the immigration office remains committed to transparency and accountability throughout the investigation.
He stated that officers followed standard monitoring procedures and responded immediately after detecting an unusual situation through the facility’s surveillance system.
The immigration office is continuing to coordinate with Bali Police, medical authorities, and representatives of the Australian Government as the investigation proceeds.
Officials have urged the public to allow the investigative process to run its course and avoid speculation until the final findings are released.
The Australian man’s death remains under active investigation.
