JAKARTA (THE JAKARTA POST/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - The National Police confirmed on Tuesday (Nov 10) that the director of Batam's One-Stop Integrated Service (PTSP) in the Riau Islands had joined the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) movement after failing to return to work.

National Police spokesman Inspector-General Anton Charliyan said that PTSP director Dwi Djoko Wiwoho had been scheduled to return from leave on Sep 1 but instead sent a message to his boss asking him to inform his parents that he had joined ISIS.

"His message was clear. (He said) he would join the jihad and go on a journey. That could only mean that he did go there," Insp-Gen Anton said, as quoted by Antara news agency.

He said that Dwi had applied for a visa to visit the Netherlands, however, did not pick up the visa prior to departing the country.

The police said they had found indication that Dwi and his wife had gone to Iraq via Istanbul, Turkey to join the hardline group.

Insp-Gen Anton said police would look into parties that may have influenced Dwi into joining ISIS.

Brigader-General Hamidin, prevention deputy at the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT), previously said that the agency had detected Dwi's involvement in ISIS several months ago.

"This shows that ISIS has entered many circles of society," he told Antara on Friday.

The PTSP was established in response to President Joko Widodo's instruction to create a business-friendly bureaucracy by eliminating costly red tape for entrepreneurs and investors.