DENPASAR, DEWATA.NEWS – Indonesia’s Attorney General’s Office has begun gathering information following a complaint alleging potential misuse of authority related to Bali’s foreign tourist levy, a fee charged to international visitors entering the island.
According to internal sources, investigators are currently conducting preliminary information and data collection regarding the levy, known locally as PWA (Pungutan Wisatawan Asing).
“At the moment, the Attorney General’s Office is conducting pulbaket and puldata,” an internal prosecution source said on Friday (March 13).
In Indonesian legal practice, pulbaket refers to the collection of preliminary information, while puldata involves gathering supporting data before any formal investigation is launched.
As part of this process, the Attorney General’s Office — through the Directorate III of the Intelligence Division under the Deputy Attorney General for Intelligence — has summoned several parties, including officials from regional government agencies within the Bali Provincial Government.
One of those requested to attend was Bali’s Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) chief, Dewa Nyoman Rai Dharmadi, who was asked to travel to Jakarta and bring relevant documents related to the foreign tourist levy.
The summons reportedly required attendance on Thursday (March 12) at the Attorney General’s Office office on Jalan Hasanuddin, South Jakarta.
The inquiry is related to Bali’s foreign tourist levy of IDR 150,000 per person, which has been applied to international visitors arriving on the island.
Reports circulating alongside the summons letter suggest that authorities are examining possible discrepancies between the number of tourists entering Bali and the total levy funds received by the provincial government.
However, the Attorney General’s Office has not yet issued an official statement regarding the summons of Bali provincial officials.
Similarly, the Bali Provincial Government has not provided any comment in response to questions about the inquiry.
The foreign tourist levy was introduced as part of Bali’s efforts to support cultural preservation and environmental management on the island, with funds intended to contribute to sustainable tourism programs.