Tourism Ministry urges action on Ukrainian kidnapping case in Bali

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Tourism has called on the Foreigner Surveillance Team (PORA) comprising government agencies to address the kidnapping incident involving a Ukrainian national by a Russian gang in Bali.

"We believe the police and the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections will be able to resolve this case," the ministry's deputy for tourism and infrastructure development, Hariyanto, stated on Friday.

Hariyanto emphasized that the ministry had requested the related authority to address issues related to monitoring foreign visitors' presence and activities in Bali.

"The Ministry of Tourism, along with the Bali Regional Government and the Task Force, will take firm action against tourists violating the rules in order to maintain the safety and well-being of the tourism sector in Bali," he emphasized.

His side disseminated information on the Do's and Don'ts for tourists, established a Special Tourism Civil Service Police Unit, and optimized PORA's role in overseeing foreigners' presence in Bali.

In addition, the ministry formed an Integrated Team for Guidance and Supervision of Bali Provincial Development.

The Ministry of Tourism has also proposed the arrangement for the development of tourism accommodations, including hotels and villas, as well as land conversion and for entertainment venues in the Sarbagita (Denpasar, Badung, Gianyar, and Tabanan) area, through revisions to several business licensing provisions in the online single submission (OSS) system.

The Bali Police is currently investigating a robbery allegedly committed by several foreigners against a Ukrainian with the initials II.

In a viral video, II and his driver were victims of kidnapping and robbery of crypto assets worth around Rp3.4 billion (US$202 thousand). The incident occurred on December 15, 2024. The victim and his driver, with the initials A, were driving a white BMW.