Denpasar. Bali Police have arrested two immigration officers and two Russian nationals for allegedly kidnapping, extorting, and assaulting foreign nationals in what authorities believe may be part of a wider criminal network targeting expatriates on the island.

The suspects --identified as Iutii Vitchenko, 35, Ilia Shkutov, 37, both Russian nationals; and two Indonesian immigration officers, Ernest Ismail, 24, and Yopita Barinda Putri, 24-- were arrested by Bali Police’s Directorate of General Crime Investigation on July 21. The arrests followed an investigation into the July 9 kidnapping and extortion of a Lithuanian citizen.

According to police reports, the victim was abducted, assaulted, and forced to pay a $150 debt allegedly owed to another foreign national named Rustam. The perpetrators demanded payment in cryptocurrency and threatened to report the victim to immigration authorities for deportation if he did not comply.

Bali Police Chief Daniel Adityajaya said in a press briefing on Friday that the suspects have carried out similar operations at 27 different locations across Bali. "These locations fall under four zones, with incidents stretching from January to July 2025 in areas including Jimbaran, Tebu Beneng, Canggu, Kuta, Badung, and Denpasar," Adityajaya said, adding that each suspect received hundreds of millions of rupiah.

Authorities suspect the operation may be linked to other serious crimes involving drug trafficking, prostitution, and money laundering involving foreigners in Bali.

“The case is still being developed, and we are not ruling out the possibility that this group is part of a broader criminal syndicate,” Adityajaya added.

Bali’s immigration chief Asep Kurnia confirmed the involvement of his officers and expressed full support for the legal proceedings. “We have coordinated with the Bali Police. We fully support the ongoing legal process and will respect any outcome. Ethical hearings and sanctions will follow,” Asep said.

Police investigations revealed that the immigration officers became involved after developing a relationship with the Russian suspects, who asked for assistance in locating certain individuals. “The foreign suspects reached out to various parties to track down people they claimed had caused them losses,” said Bali Police General Crime Director I Gede Adhi Mulyawarman.

Law enforcement is also pursuing a fifth suspect, identified by the initials GG, who allegedly orchestrated the group's operations.

The four suspects face charges under Articles 170 and 351 of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) for group assault and physical abuse, in conjunction with Articles 55 and 56 on aiding and abetting a crime. If convicted, they face up to five years in prison.

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