Immigration Officers in Bali Allegedly Aid Russians in Tourist Extortion Ring
Bali, Indonesia — Two immigration officers stationed in Bali, Indonesia’s renowned tourist hotspot, have been arrested for allegedly collaborating with Russian nationals to operate a widespread extortion ring targeting foreign tourists. The scandal has sparked serious concern over the integrity of local law enforcement and the safety of visitors on the island.
The two officers, Ernest Esmail and Yopita Barinda Putri, both aged 24, are accused of working alongside two Russian men, identified as Iurii Vithcenko, 30, and Ilia Shkutov, 32. Together, they reportedly intimidated tourists through threats, physical assaults, and coercion to obtain forced payments. Their activities allegedly spanned from January through July 2025, occurring at multiple locations across Bali.
The arrests followed an investigation prompted by an incident on July 10, when a Lithuanian tourist was violently assaulted in the Jimbaran area. This triggered a thorough inquiry led by the Bali Regional Police, which uncovered at least 27 separate cases of extortion and violence against visitors. The perpetrators reportedly kidnapped some victims and used threats of imprisonment or deportation to compel compliance.
Parlindungan, head of the Bali Immigration Regional Office, acknowledged that the two detained officers face serious internal disciplinary action. He confirmed that disciplinary procedures are underway and indicated that dismissal from their positions is likely once the legal proceedings conclude. “Following a detailed review by the police chief, there will definitely be an ethics hearing, and the sanctions will be very serious. Dismissal? That is certainly a possibility,” Parlindungan stated to reporters, as reported by local news outlet Kompas.
Bali police held a press conference on Friday to publicly present the suspects and address the severity of the crime ring. Authorities emphasized their commitment to protecting tourists and restoring public trust in local enforcement agencies.
This incident has cast a shadow on Bali’s reputation as a safe tourist destination, with officials now under pressure to implement stricter oversight mechanisms within immigration and law enforcement bodies to prevent such collusion in the future.
The investigation remains ongoing, and further details are expected as legal proceedings progress. Tourists are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the local authorities.
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