Bali police have released a Russian national, a former mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, who was mistakenly arrested in connection with the violent armed robbery of a Ukrainian man in December.
“Based on our examination, he was not involved because he was in Dubai when the incident occurred,” Bali police spokesman Kombes Ariasandy said on 1 February.
The 30-year-old suspect was taken into custody on 30 January at Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport while preparing to board an Emirates flight.
However, after a 24-hour investigation, police found no evidence linking him to the crime and released him the following evening.
The basis for the wrongful arrest remains unclear.
The Incident
The mistaken arrest stemmed from an investigation into a high-profile robbery on 15 December, when a gang of armed men kidnapped and assaulted Ukrainian national Igor Iermakov before allegedly forcing him to transfer cryptocurrency worth Rp 3,5 billion.
The perpetrators, posing as police officers, used two vehicles to block Iermakov’s car before dragging him and his driver into one of their vehicles.
They were taken to a villa in South Kuta, where Iermakov reported being beaten, handcuffed, and threatened at gunpoint until he transferred the funds.
Authorities believe the attack was orchestrated by a nine-member gang composed of six Russians, two Kazakhs, and one Ukrainian.
Police say they have identified the suspects and are pursuing their capture.
The case remains under active investigation as authorities work to locate and apprehend the actual perpetrators.
