Two foreign tourists held over robbery targeting money changers in Bali

The Star

2 days ago

Tajaddin Hajiyep (seated) and Evgeniy Viktorovich Pak (rear, second right) being paraded in front of the media on July 31 during a press conference in Kuta, Bali. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
JAKARTA: Two foreign tourists have been arrested for two alleged robberies targeting money changers on the resort island of Bali. One of the suspects was beaten by a mob after he tried to steal Rp 191,150,000 (US$11,667) from the victim.
Police discovered that this was their second such act on the island.
The two suspects, Tajaddin Hajiyep, 35, from Azerbaijan and Evgeniy Viktorovich Pak, 36, from Uzbekistan could face a maximum sentence of nine years in prison if found guilty.
Kuta Police chief Comr Agus Riwayanto Diputro told a press conference on Thursday (July 31) that the suspects were members of a group targeting money exchange businesses that offer cash on delivery services to hotels or villas. The suspects used false passports when contacting their victims.
'The fake passport was used as identification. This made the victims trust them and agree to bring a certain amount of money to a specific location requested by the perpetrators,' Riwayanto said.
He said the suspects had contacted the money changer through the Telegram messaging app and told them he would like to change his crypto worth US$2,350 to rupiah. The suspect asked the money changer to send the money to a villa in the Kuta district, Badung regency.
Based on the request, the company sent two staff members to the villa with the money. However, the two were robbed once they arrived.
While one of the perpetrators and the two victims were counting the money, the other perpetrator suddenly arrived and grabbed the neck of one of the victims. The other perpetrator then grabbed the neck of the other victim. Both perpetrators told the victims they were from Interpol.
'The victims were in shock, as they said that they were from Interpol,' Riwayanto said.
After the assault, the perpetrators ran away with the money.
However, the victims chased the perpetrators and hit suspect Hajiyep with a motorbike. The locals in the area managed to nab Hajiyep but not before beating him, causing minor injuries.
The other suspect, Pak, was arrested later when he tried to leave the island through I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.
'We arrested the other suspect within 24 hours, thanks to our coordination with the Immigration office,' Riwayanto added.
The two suspects apparently had committed another crime earlier in Canggu, causing the victim to lose Rp 170 million.
'They came to Bali as tourists but apparently they committed two similar offences during their stay,' Riwayanto said.
Police intend to charge the two suspects under Article 365 of the Criminal Code on robbery.
I Gusti Ngurah Rai Immigration Office officer Dharma Bayuaji told reporters that the two suspects arrived in Bali in January using tourist visas. Pak had extended his visa online until August, while Hajiyep's visa had already expired.
Bayuaji said they both entered Bali using valid passports. - The Jakarta Post/ANN