British Teacher Found Dead at Depok Immigration Detention Center

A 54-year-old British national working as a teacher in Depok died by suicide while in custody at the Depok Immigration Office on Tuesday, April 22, 2026. The man, identified by initials DJR, was found hanging in a bathroom of the detention facility after being arrested for violating the terms of his Indonesian residence permit.

How the Incident Unfolded

DJR had been detained by immigration authorities since Monday, April 20, for misusing his stay permit. On the afternoon of Tuesday, April 22, CCTV footage recorded him entering the bathroom at approximately 3:20 PM local time. When he failed to return to the detention room within a reasonable timeframe, officers grew concerned.

After a witness reported the man's absence, immigration staff attempted to locate him. Finding the bathroom door closed and unable to see inside through wall gaps, officers forced the door open. They discovered DJR hanging from the ventilation grille above the toilet, having fashioned a ligature from his long-sleeved shirt.

"The victim was bleeding from the nose while hanging, and it is suspected he was suffering from depression," said AKP Made Budi, Head of Public Relations for Depok Metro Police.

Background and Circumstances

The British national had been employed as a teacher at a school in the Sawangan area of Depok, West Java. Immigration officials indicated that stress related to his detention and the residence permit violation appear to have been contributing factors to his death.

His body was transported via ambulance by officers from the Sukmajaya Sector Police and the Depok Metro Police's Indonesia Automatic Fingerprint Identification System (INAFIS) unit. The incident raises questions about mental health support protocols within Indonesian immigration detention facilities, where foreign nationals facing permit violations can spend extended periods in custody.

Immigration and Mental Health Concerns

This tragic case highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of foreigners in Indonesian immigration detention centers. While residence permit violations are common administrative issues affecting thousands of expats in Indonesia, the circumstances surrounding detention and access to mental health support remain areas of concern for advocacy groups.

The incident occurred at the Class 1 Non-TPI Depok Immigration Office, a major detention facility in Greater Jakarta that processes immigration cases for the region.

Original source: Indonesia Expat