Admitting To Interpol, Russian Caucasians Extort Uzbekistan WN Car Rental Boss In Bali

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DENPASAR - The police arrested a Caucasian from Russia with the initials EB (56) for extorting Uzbek citizen Nikolay Romanov in Bali. This Russian Caucasian claimed to be Interpol.

"There was also a crime committed by threatening and (the victim) surrendering 21 motorbikes and asking for some money by claiming to be a member of Interpol. Where the person concerned asked for money and threatened the victim's business," said Director of Criminal Investigation of the Bali Police, Kombes Djuhandhani Rahardjo, at the Bali Police Headquarters, Tuesday, July 6th.

The perpetrator made threats by pretending to be a member of Interpol and blackmailing the victim who was a car rental boss in Bali. The victim lost 21 motorbikes and Rp. 400 million in cash.

Kombes Rahardjo said the police were hunting for two other Russian Caucasians who were friends of the perpetrators. The two are Olga Bagriantsev and Maxim Zhiltson.

"Only one has been arrested, they must have been in groups but we believe there are other victims who may be afraid of not reporting. We will continue to develop this," he added.

The incident began on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. At that time, the perpetrator came to the victim's motorbike and car rental in the Batu Bolong Beach area, Canggu, Kuta.

The perpetrator claimed to be a member of Interpol and called the victim's business illegal. The perpetrator blackmailed the victim and asked him to hand over his 21 motorbikes so that the matter would not be reported to the Indonesian security forces.

In addition, the perpetrator also sent the victim a message via WhatsA[p] and said the victim's company was in trouble because many illegal ones were also places for storing and selling drugs.

"If the victim does not follow what is said, the victim is reported to the police and it is explained that the place of the victim has been known by the police as a place for storing and selling drugs," he explained.

It didn't stop there, the perpetrators on Saturday, May 22 to Thursday, June 3 again contacted the victim and asked the victim to transfer Rp. 400 million and 1 unit of NMAX motorcycle as security money. The victim complied with the perpetrator's request for fear of being sentenced to prison.

In addition, the perpetrator said the victim could be sentenced to 1 to 4 years in prison and a fine of Rp. 400 million. Then, the perpetrator asked for Rp230 million to take care of the victim's company problem in Bali.

"Because, the fear of the victim was forced to hand over some money by transfer," he explained.

However, the victim who became suspicious finally reported the case to the Bali Police Headquarters and on Thursday, July 1. The police then arrested the perpetrator in the supermarket parking lot on Jalan Raya Kerobokan, Kuta, Badung, Bali.

"When we checked the victim's company, there was absolutely no problem and had followed the prescribed procedure, so he reported it and we followed it up," said Kombes Rahardjo.

For his actions, the perpetrator was charged with Article 368 of the Criminal Code with a maximum penalty of 4 years.