Two Foreign Tourists Arrested for Robbery Targeting Money Changers in Bali
Bali, Indonesia – Authorities have apprehended two foreign tourists suspected of carrying out two robbery incidents targeting money changers on the popular resort island of Bali. The suspects, identified as Tajaddin Hajiyep, 35, from Azerbaijan, and Evgeniy Viktorovich Pak, 36, from Uzbekistan, are facing serious charges that could lead to up to nine years in prison if convicted.
The arrests follow an investigation by the Kuta Police after one of the suspects was caught and beaten by a mob following a failed robbery attempt that involved Rp 191,150,000 (approximately US$11,667). Bali Police officials revealed this was not their first offense, as the duo had allegedly committed a similar robbery earlier on the island.
According to Comr. Agus Riwayanto Diputro, chief of Kuta Police, the suspects specifically targeted money exchange businesses offering cash-on-delivery services to hotels and villas. The criminals reportedly used fake passports as a form of identification, which misled their victims into trusting them and agreeing to deliver large sums of cash to locations designated by the suspects.
“The fake passports served as identification and helped gain the trust of the victims, convincing them to bring money to specific locations requested by the perpetrators,” Comr. Diputro explained during a press conference.
The police detailed that the suspects initially contacted a money changer via the Telegram messaging application, expressing an interest in converting cryptocurrency amounting to US$2,350 into Indonesian rupiah. They requested that the money changer send the cash to Aura Segara Villa, located at Jl. Segara Merta No. 8 in Tuban, Kuta district, Badung regency.
Acting on the request, two employees of the money exchange company delivered the cash to the villa. Upon arrival, while counting the money, they were suddenly attacked. One suspect grabbed the neck of one employee while the other arrested the neck of the second employee, both intimidating the victims by falsely claiming to be Interpol officers.
“They shocked the victims by claiming to be from Interpol. While the money exchange staff were taken aback, the suspects put them in a chokehold,” said Comr. Diputro. After overpowering the victims, the suspects fled with the stolen money.
The victims pursued the perpetrators, managing to hit Hajiyep with a motorbike. Local residents detained Hajiyep, although not before he suffered minor injuries from a mob beating. Pak was apprehended later at Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport when trying to leave the island. The swift arrest was made possible through close cooperation between the police and immigration authorities.
Investigations also revealed the suspects had committed an earlier robbery in Canggu, Bali, causing a loss of Rp 170 million to the victim. “Despite arriving in Bali as tourists, they committed two similar offenses during their stay on the island,” Comr. Diputro noted.
The suspects are being charged under Article 365 of the Indonesian Criminal Code, which pertains to robbery offenses.
An official from the I Gusti Ngurah Rai Immigration Office, Dharma Bayuaji, confirmed that the suspects entered Bali in January using valid passports and tourist visas. Pak had extended his visa online until August, while Hajiyep’s visa had already expired. Bayuaji clarified that the suspects did not enter Indonesia using fake passports, although they utilized counterfeit documents during the commission of their crimes.
The case highlights growing concerns over criminal activities targeting businesses in Bali, a key tourist destination known for its vibrant money exchange market catering to travelers. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and have urged businesses to exercise caution when dealing with large cash transactions and to verify identities thoroughly.
As police press forward with legal action against the suspects, the Bali community and tourism sector await further developments in the case, which underscores the importance of vigilance amid the island’s bustling commercial activities.
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