The Bali Police (Polda Bali) have arrested two Indonesian immigration officers and two Russian nationals for their alleged involvement in an extortion and assault case targeting foreign tourists in Bali.
According to Denpasar Police, the two immigration officers identified by their initials EE (24, male) and YB (24, female) are suspected of protecting a Russian criminal group engaged in illegal activities on the island. The two Russian nationals arrested, identified as IV (30) and IS (33), are believed to be key actors in the network.
“The modus operandi of the perpetrators is to extort, kidnap, persecute, and threaten to take the victim to the Immigration office and deport,” said Bali Regional Police Chief Inspector General Daniel Adityajaya in a press conference on Friday (1/8/2025).
Victim Report Leads to Uncovering Criminal Activity
A report from Roman Smeliov, a 42-year-old Lithuanian national, triggered the investigation. On July 9, 2025, at approximately 11:30 PM local time, Smeliov was assaulted in a housing complex in Jimbaran, South Kuta, Badung Regency.
Police reports state that suspects IV and IS attacked the victim by wrapping tape around his neck and repeatedly beating him. Officers EE and YB, dressed in immigration uniforms, allegedly joined the assault and threatened the victim to unlock his phone and share his data.
“The victim was threatened with deportation, imprisonment, and even death if they did not cooperate and were asked not to report this incident to the police,” he said.
The attack ceased once the perpetrators realized Smeliov was not their intended target. He sustained a broken nose and filed a report with the Bali Police on July 16, 2025.
Criminal Network Linked to Wider Offenses
Bali Police Director of General Criminal Investigation, Daniel, stated that the arrests were part of a broader operation involving scientific crime investigation methods. The suspects are believed to be connected to a Russian gang operating in Bali, with activities spanning extortion, kidnapping, drug trafficking, prostitution, and cryptocurrency-based money laundering.
The foreign suspects reportedly lured and detained victims, forcing them to transfer funds via digital currency platforms. Further investigation is ongoing into their possible links to these broader criminal operations.
27 Incidents Recorded Across Bali and Badung
Authorities allege that the two immigration officers were involved in at least 27 incidents of extortion between January and July 2025. These incidents were recorded across several regions, including Jimbaran, Canggu, Legian, and Kuta between March and July, as well as in seven locations across Badung from January to March, and 14 in Denpasar from January to July.
A foreign national identified only as GG is believed to be the mastermind behind the operation, responsible for selecting which tourists would be targeted. The police currently want GG.
“A total of 27 crime scenes were obtained as a result of being divided evenly, each getting around hundreds of millions of rupiah,” he said.
Arrests Conducted Across Provinces
The suspects were arrested at separate locations. Immigration officers EE and YB were detained in Denpasar, while Russian nationals IV and IS were apprehended on July 21, 2025, at a restaurant in Mandalika, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).
Legal Proceedings Underway
All four suspects have been charged under Article 170 of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) for assault and Article 351 for mistreatment, in conjunction with Articles 55 and 56 regarding participation in a criminal act. If convicted, they face up to eight years in prison.
Investigations by the Directorate of General Criminal Investigation of the Bali Police are ongoing to determine the full extent of the suspects’ involvement in the criminal network.
