Police in Bali detained officers in connection with alleged extortion of tourists in the Archipelago

The Bali Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division (Propam) detained two lower-level police officers on Wednesday in connection with the alleged extortion of a Colombian tourist.

The incident came to light as the national police faced widespread public scrutiny over a separate extortion scandal that occurred last month at the Djakarta Warehouse Project (DWP) 2024 music festival.

Bali Police spokesman, Senior Comr. Ariasandy said investigators made the arrest after finding sufficient evidence that two officers, identified only as first responder. Insp. GKS and first adj. Insp. S, violated the police code of ethics.

“We are still questioning both officers. If they are found guilty, they will be punished in accordance with applicable regulations,” he said in a statement on Tuesday, quoted by Compass.

According to Ariasanda, the incident occurred on January 5 when a Colombian tourist, identified only by her initials SGH, visited the Kuta Police Station in Badung Regency to report a robbery.

She told GKS and S officers that an unidentified man stole her iPhone 14 Pro Max on ul. Uluwatu in Badung Regency. The officers instructed her to file a report with the South Kuta Police as the incident fell under their jurisdiction.

SGH explained that she couldn’t do it because she was rushing to catch a flight home. She asked GKS and S to prepare a report on the loss of property so that she could submit an insurance claim after returning to the country.

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