Bali Police Name 6 Foreigners as Suspects in the Kidnapping of a Ukrainian White Man

DENPASAR - The Bali Regional Police has named six foreign nationals (WNA) as suspects in the alleged kidnapping case of Ukrainian citizen, Ihor Komarav (28).

Head of Public Relations of the Bali Police, Kombes Ariasandy, said the determination of the suspects was made after the police arrested one foreigner with the initials CH who tried to flee to the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) region. CH is suspected of helping to rent vehicles for the suspects.

"Initially we secured one foreigner with the initials CH who played a role in renting a vehicle using a fake passport. From the results of the development, we have determined six other people as suspects, namely RM, BK, AS, VN, SM, and DH. All of them are men and foreign nationals," said Ariasandy in Denpasar, Friday, February 27.

He explained that the case was revealed after the victim's friend reported the alleged kidnapping to the police.

The report was immediately followed up by a joint team from the Bali Police and the police ranks by conducting an investigation of the crime scene (TKP) and collecting witness statements.

During the investigation process, the police traced CCTV footage at a number of crossing points that the perpetrator allegedly passed before and after the incident.

From the results of the analysis, one unit of four-wheeled vehicle and two units of motorcycles were detected suspected of being involved in the incident.

The four-wheeled vehicle of the Toyota Avanza type was known to be rented by a foreigner, namely CH.

Furthermore, said Ariasandy, the police then investigated the role of CH and found that the person concerned rented a car and two motorcycles at the request of another party in exchange for Rp. 6 million.

From the results of CCTV and GPS data on the vehicle, the investigation team tracked the route of the vehicle's journey and its stopping points.

The results of the analysis showed that the vehicle had stopped at a villa in Tabanan area.

The police then inspected the villa and suspected that the location was used as a place for the victim to record a live broadcast video that had circulated.

At the villa location, investigators found traces of blood which were then secured for forensic examination.

In addition, blood traces were also found inside the Avanza car used by the perpetrator.

"The results of the temporary identification show that the blood in the vehicle and in the villa is identical," said the former Head of Public Relations of the NTT Police.

Ariasandy said that based on the findings, investigators developed an investigation to identify the parties who rented the villa and the motorcyclists who were detected around the crime scene and around the place where the victim stayed.

From the results of the development, the police identified six foreign nationals suspected of being involved or knowing about the kidnapping incident. The seven suspects have now been secured to undergo further legal proceedings.

The Bali Police stated that the investigation was still ongoing to uncover the role of each suspect as well as the motive behind the alleged kidnapping of the Ukrainian citizen.

Previously, a Ukrainian foreign national Ihor Komarav was reported missing on Sunday (15/2) allegedly abducted by unknown persons.

At that time, the victim and his colleagues were going to practice riding a motor-driven and climbing in Jimbaran, Badung Regency, Bali.

The victim, who was being carried by one of his colleagues, was in the backmost position. However, on the way, Ihor and one of his colleagues were attacked by unknown people.

A colleague who was on a motorcycle with Ihor, then managed to escape and reported to his friends that Ihor had been kidnapped by unknown people.

After the incident, the victim's friends also reported the incident to the South Kuta Police.

Not long after, a video broadcast live by the victim Ihor, was known to be in a villa and asked his family for a ransom.

The police also conducted an investigation into the place where the victim took the video and the results of the DNA test of blood stains at the place with blood in the car allegedly used by the identical suspects.