31 People Detained For Allegedly Using Fake Vaccine Documents At The Padangbai Port In Bali

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Authorities from the Karangasem police department have detained a group of 31 men after allegedly showing fake Covid-19 vaccine documents at the Padangbai Port.

The Head of the Karangasem police department, AKBP Riko Abdillah Andang Taruna confirmed that a group of men who have been working as boat crews were detained during an attempt to leave Bali through the Padangbai Port in order to go back to their hometown in Lombom, West Nusa Tenggara on Thursday (26/8). “A group of men who attempted to take a ferry trip to Lombok through the Pasangbai Port were detained due to allegedly showing fake Covid-19 vaccine certificates at the border on Thursday morning around 9:00am.” AKBP Taruna said on Friday (28/8).

Prior to the incident, the boat crew members had just arrived at Benoa Port that is located in Denpasar after sailing for over 6 months on a ship. Shortly after, they continued their trip home through the Padangbai Port in Karangasen before taking a ferry to Lombok. “27 of them took a bus, and the other 4 were in a car when they arrived at the Padangbai Port that morning. Among all those men, only 18 of them were able to show vaccine documents, and when we checked them, they were allegedly fake documents as they did not have any barcodes.” AKBP Taruna added.

Apart from the fake Covid-19 vaccine certificates, the boat crews were unable to show proof of a negative result from a rapid antigen test upon their arrival. After rapid antigen testing them at the port, the officers decided to take them to the Karangasem police station for further investigation. “We took them to our office and seized their vehicles to investigate how they received those documents.” AKBO Taruna concluded. Bali authorities have been strictly inspecting every border of the island to assure that everyone is complying with the government’s instruction as an effort to reduce Covid-19 transmissions in Bali.