Denpasar, Bali. Indonesian police have arrested an international fugitive from Romania wanted on murder charges after tracking him to the resort island of Bali, authorities said on Friday.

A joint team from the National Police’s International Relations Division, working through Indonesia’s Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB), arrested Zuleam Costinel Cosmin, a 33-year-old Romanian national, in Kerobokan, Bali, on Jan. 15.

Bali Police spokesman Senior Commissioner Ariasandy confirmed the arrest of the red notice subject, saying Zuleam is currently being held at the Bali Police’s General Criminal Investigation Directorate while awaiting transfer to Romanian authorities.

“The suspect, Zuleam Costinel Cosmin, was arrested on Jan. 15, in the Kerobokan area of Bali. He is currently being detained at the Bali Police pending the handover process to NCB Bucharest,” Ariasandy said, as quoted by state news agency Antara.

According to police, the arrest followed information shared by several Interpol member countries indicating that Zuleam was in Indonesia, particularly in Bali. 

“The operation involved coordination among several Interpol national central bureaus, including NCB Bucharest, NCB Tashkent and NCB Brussels,” Ariasandy said.

Indonesia’s police international division also shared images of the arrest on its official Instagram account on Friday. In the post, authorities said Zuleam is a suspect in a high-profile murder case that occurred in Sibiu, Romania, on Nov. 6, 2023.

Investigators allege that Zuleam and two accomplices broke into the home of a local businessman in Sibiu. During the incident, the victim was subjected to severe torture, while his daughter was threatened with a firearm. The suspects then fled with luxury watches valued at approximately €200,000 ($217,000).

The case drew widespread public attention in Romania due to its brutality and the high value of the stolen items.

Police said Zuleam’s two alleged accomplices were previously arrested in Ireland and Scotland. Both were later convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by local courts.

Zuleam, however, managed to evade arrest and was placed on Interpol’s wanted list after the Sibiu District Court issued an arrest warrant on Nov. 19, 2023.

Indonesian authorities said Zuleam is currently undergoing intensive questioning by Bali police as part of administrative and legal procedures prior to his extradition.

Indonesia and Romania are coordinating through Interpol channels to complete the handover process, after which Zuleam is expected to be transferred to Romanian authorities to face prosecution under Romanian law.

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