The Criminal Investigation Unit of the I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport Police successfully uncovered a car-rental embezzlement network operating at several points around the airport area.
Airport Police Chief Commissioner I Komang Budiartha explained on Monday in Badung that the perpetrators used fake flight tickets and fictitious rental bookings. The case was solved after a series of investigations from October to November 2025.
Five people were arrested in various locations across Bali and East Java, while one suspect remains at large. In the operation, police seized three cars and several other pieces of evidence. The total losses suffered by rental owners are estimated to exceed Rp750 million.
The case emerged after two rental owners, Okye Dedriyanto (38) and Rahmat AA (35), filed police reports in early October 2025 because vehicles rented by the suspects were not returned past the agreed period.
The first report was received on October 9, 2025, when the complainant could no longer contact a renter identified as TSA (23), who had rented a Toyota Innova Reborn and a Honda Brio.
The cars were handed over at the Domestic Terminal Parking Building, 3rd Floor, for a three-day rental period, but the suspect never returned. TSA also embezzled another Brio unit.
The second case was a forwarded report from the Bali Regional Police on October 28, 2025, regarding a missing Honda Brio with plate DK 11XX ADR. The vehicle’s GPS signal was lost in the Tanah Lot Bypass area of Tabanan, making tracking difficult, and attempts to reach the renter were unsuccessful.
Verifiy the Renters’ ID
The Police Chief stated that, the perpetrators sent fake airline tickets to rental car owners to make themselves appear as tourists visiting Bali. After receiving the cars, the perpetrators fled the area.
Based on the crime-scene investigation, witness statements, and analysis of several leads, the Criminal Investigation Unit arrested TSA on October 12, 2025, at dawn in Kerambitan, Tabanan.
TSA admitted to committing fraud and embezzlement involving two cars belonging to the complainants an Innova Reborn (black) with plate W 19XX QH and a Honda Brio DK 10XX FCN before handing them over to someone identified as RE.
Further investigation revealed the involvement of additional suspects. NPOS alias RE (47), a woman from Buleleng, was identified as the mastermind who arranged recruitment, received cars from TSA, and sent them to BUD in Sidoarjo, East Java, earning Rp20 million per vehicle. RE was arrested in Abianbase, Mengwi, Badung.
Another suspect, AS alias MAN (22), recruited individuals to pose as renters and supervised transactions carried out by YS still a fugitive. He received payments ranging from Rp500,000 to Rp1.5 million and admitted to introducing TSA to RE. He was arrested on Jalan Gunung Salak, Denpasar.
The investigation into RE and MAN led police to two other suspects in East Java. The team pursued and arrested DBP alias BUD (49) and MA alias RUD (30). BUD acted as a fence who bought stolen vehicles from RE for resale, while RUD helped disable the vehicles’ GPS systems.
According to Antaranews, Police Chief Budiartha emphasized the commitment to dismantling similar networks through his statement.
“This is not a common crime. They operate as a structured network ranging from recruiters to receivers outside Bali. We are moving quickly, and the arrest of these perpetrators is proof of our commitment that crimes like this will not be allowed to flourish,” the Commissioner said.
According to Tempo.co, he added that the search for other fugitives would continue.
“We will pursue the other perpetrators until the case is closed. There is no room for vehicle theft syndicates in Bali, especially in the airport area, which is the face of tourism,” Budiartha said.
The Police Chief also urged the public and rental businesses to tighten identity verification for renters, verify flight tickets or other supporting documents, use GPS devices that are difficult to remove, and report suspicious activity around the airport immediately.
Evidence seized includes three stolen vehicles, an Innova bumper, the license plate DK 10XX FCN, a Honda Brio GPS device, six mobile phones, clothing worn by suspects, rental receipts, identification documents, and Rp1 million in cash.
The suspects are charged under Articles 378, 372, 55–56, and 480 of the Indonesian Criminal Code, with penalties ranging from four to nine years in prison.
Sources : AntaraNews, Tempo.co
Feat Image : via Public Relations Division of Bali Police