Bali Police Make Sure Members Are Not Involved In Allegations Of Extortion Of Canadian Citizens Fugitive Interpol, 2 Police Examined By Propam

Head Of Public Relations Of The Bali Police, Kombes Stefanus Satake Bayu Setianto/ANTARA/Rolandus Nampu

DENPASAR - Polda Blali stated that none of its members were involved in the report on the alleged extortion of the red notice of Canadian citizen Stephane Gagnon (50).

"There are no personnel from Bali. The report is an individual suspected of being an individual from the National Police Headquarters. Two members of the police and one civilian as well," said Head of Public Relations of the Bali Police, Kombes Satake Bayu Setianto, as reported by ANTARA, Monday, June 5.

Satake said the two police officers and a civilian were reported by SG's attorney for allegedly extorting SG by asking for some money.

Currently, the two police officers are undergoing examination by the Professional and Security Division (Propam) of the National Police Headquarters.

"Both of them are still being investigated for further investigation into the truth of what was reported by the lawyer from the Canadian citizen. Later from the National Police Headquarters will inform you," said Satake.

The police are still investigating SG's statement which claimed to have been blackmailed by a case broker who claimed to be from the National Police Headquarters with a total fund of Rp. 1 billion so as not to be arrested by the Police International Relations Division.

"The report is Rp. 1 billion, but an investigation is still underway," he said.

Based on a report from the attorney for suspect SG through Dalimunthe & Tampubolon Lawyers (DNT Lawyers), the Bali Police postponed the handover of SG to immigration while waiting for orders from the Divhubinter Police Headquarters in Jakarta.

According to the initial plan, the submission of SG from the Bali Police to the immigration authorities was carried out on Sunday, June 4, 2023.

"The Canadian state lawyer reported that there was extortion carried out by the police at the National Police Headquarters. Therefore, we have postponed the return of Canadian citizens to the Canadian police for the process but we will coordinate with the immigration authorities when it is time for us to hand it over to Canada," said Satake.

Currently, SG is still at the Bali Police Detention Center.

Meanwhile, Stephane Gagnon through his attorney who is a member of the Dalimunthe & Tampubolon Lawyers (DNT Lawyers) as stated in a written statement received in Denpasar, Bali, Monday explaining that the extortion incident began in February 2023, where SG was visited by an individual with a piece of print that reads red notice interpol.

At the time of the meeting, the police said SG was included in the red notice Interpol, and would be arrested within 4-6 weeks. During the meeting, the person said he could be helped not to be arrested, on condition that he had to hand over some money.

"SG looked closely at his identity in the red notice, it turned out that it was not SG because his identity was different from the identity written in the red notice. Because he felt his identity was different from the identity in the red notice, SG ignored the person's request," said one of SG's attorneys, Pahrur Dalimunthe.

Some time later, the police returned to SG with several other people to talk about the same thing. Feeling annoyed and wanting not to

again disturbed, at the request of these individuals, SG transferred a sum of Rp750 million, Rp150 million and Rp100 million.

Based on the evidence and information provided by the police, said Pahrur, the money was sent to individuals at the Police Divhubinter and several other police officers.

"The proof of the transfer, conversation and video of these individual actions exists and can be submitted if there is an investigation carried out by the Police and the KPK to take action against these individuals," said Pahrur.

Not long after, the police asked for Rp3 billion, the money was said to be distributed to several parties in the Divhubinter with a note that if the money existed on April 20, 2023, then SG would not be arrested. SG also refused the offer until May 19, 2023, SG was arrested at his residence in the Canggu area, Bali.