BADUNG, Bali — Indonesian immigration authorities have released the first official account of the death of an Australian national who died while being held at an immigration detention facility in Bali, saying officers responded immediately after noticing he had remained motionless inside a restroom during routine surveillance.
The 39-year-old Australian, identified by his initials CJMH, died on Friday while being held at the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office’s detention facility as he awaited deportation for immigration violations.
The case has attracted attention in both Indonesia and Australia, with authorities continuing to investigate the exact cause of death.
According to a statement issued by the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office on Saturday, the Australian had been placed in immigration detention after investigators concluded he had violated the conditions of his Indonesian stay permit.
Immigration officials said the investigation began after receiving a public complaint in late March alleging misuse of his residence permit.
Following several interviews and formal summons, authorities concluded that the Australian had committed an immigration violation. Officials said he had been given multiple opportunities to resolve the matter voluntarily but repeatedly failed to comply with official requests.
On Friday morning, immigration officers escorted him from his residence in Jimbaran, accompanied by local community representatives, before transferring him to the detention facility pending deportation.
Later that afternoon, officers carried out their routine checks of detainees, including monitoring through CCTV cameras.
According to the immigration statement, officers became concerned after noticing that the detainee had remained inside the restroom without any visible movement for an extended period.
They immediately entered the room and found him unconscious.
Officers checked for vital signs, administered first aid and oxygen, and called an ambulance.
Medical personnel who arrived at the detention facility continued emergency treatment before transporting the Australian to Bali Jimbaran General Hospital.
Immigration officials said he was pronounced dead while en route to the hospital.
An initial medical assessment reportedly indicated that a heart attack may have been a contributing factor at the time of the incident, although authorities stressed that the official cause of death has not yet been determined.
Police from Badung Regency immediately secured the scene and launched an investigation, while forensic examinations remain ongoing.
Ngurah Rai Immigration Office chief Bugie Kurniawan expressed condolences to the man’s family and said the agency remained committed to transparency throughout the investigation.
“Our officers carried out routine supervision in accordance with established procedures. Once an irregularity was detected through CCTV monitoring, emergency assistance was provided immediately,” Bugie said in the statement.
He added that immigration authorities are continuing to coordinate with the Indonesian National Police, medical authorities, and representatives of the Australian government to ensure all legal and administrative procedures are handled appropriately.
The incident has renewed attention on Indonesia’s immigration detention procedures, particularly regarding the welfare and medical monitoring of foreign nationals awaiting deportation.
Authorities have urged the public not to speculate while the police investigation and medical examination continue.
For now, officials say determining the precise cause of the Australian’s death remains the responsibility of police investigators and medical authorities.
