DENPASAR, mybalinews.com– Bali Police are investigating the alleged kidnapping and extortion of a 41-year-old Russian national who says he was held captive for more than a day, assaulted and forced to hand over access to his cryptocurrency accounts.
The victim, identified only by the initials AI, reported that he was abducted by a group of unidentified men in South Kuta, Badung regency, before being released about 30 hours later.
Bali Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Ariasandy said on Thursday that investigators were gathering evidence and pursuing leads to identify the suspects.
“We have received a report regarding the alleged kidnapping and extortion of a Russian national. Investigators are currently collecting evidence and information to identify those responsible,” he said.
According to police, the incident began at around 9:35 p.m. on July 2, when the victim was driving home from Hedonist Restaurant to his residence. While passing through the area between Uluwatu Street and Belimbing Pecatu Street in South Kuta, his vehicle was allegedly intercepted by a black car.
Two masked men reportedly got out of the vehicle, restrained him with plastic handcuffs, covered his head and forced him into the car.
The victim told investigators that he was taken to a two-story house, where he was held captive for approximately 30 hours. During the confinement, he said he was repeatedly punched and kicked.
Police said the assailants demanded the password to the victim’s cryptocurrency account and stole his Xiaomi mobile phone.
Investigators believe the suspects also took a key to the victim’s villa from the storage compartment of his motorcycle before entering the property and seizing another mobile phone containing access to his cryptocurrency accounts.
The victim was allegedly abandoned at around 4 a.m. on July 4 on Prabu Udayana Street, outside Udayana University Hospital in Jimbaran. Despite sustaining injuries, he managed to reach the hospital’s emergency department for medical treatment.
Police have examined four crime scenes and interviewed several witnesses. Investigators said the location where the victim was intercepted was a quiet, narrow road with few witnesses and limited CCTV coverage.
At the victim’s villa, officers found that the CCTV system, electricity and WiFi network were not functioning because of a short circuit caused by a faulty water pump.
Preliminary findings indicate that the suspects used a black Nissan Serena during the operation.
Forensic and cybercrime investigators have collected cellular “cell dump” data from four locations and are reconstructing the suspects’ movements by analyzing mobile network records linked to the victim’s phone.
Ariasandy said investigators were also reviewing CCTV footage along the suspected escape route and tracing the final movements of the Nissan Serena in an effort to locate the house where the victim was allegedly held and identify those involved.
“Bali Police will not tolerate any criminal acts, particularly those targeting tourists or foreign nationals in Bali,” Ariasandy said. “We urge anyone who witnessed suspicious vehicles or unusual activity around the time of the incident to report it to the nearest police station.”
Police have yet to announce any arrests, and the investigation remains ongoing. (mybalinews)
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