Porter At Bali Airport Arrested For Stealing Cash From Tourist’s Luggage

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Bali Police have announced the successful arrest of an airport porter who was found to have stolen IDR 5 million (USD 332) of cash from a tourist’s luggage. The porter was found in possession of the cash at the time of his arrest. Police broke the news on Sunday, 5th February, after questioning the theft following his arrest on Thursday, 26th January. 

The Chief of Police for I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, AKBP Ida Ayu Wikarniti, told reporters that the thief, identified as KA, was arrested at the airport. KA is from Badung Regency and has been working at the airport for the last five months. The police believe this was an opportunistic robbery and have given no indication that KA has done this before. 

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According to AKBP Wikarniti, KA was helping a domestic tourist with his bags. As KA was unloading the bags, he saw the compartment of his black backpack open, revealing one hundred IDR 50,000 banknotes. KA is believed to have swiped the backpack, unbeknownst to the victim, and gone about his work. Only he was spotted by another porter, who immediately reported KA to management.

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The management team for the airport porters later found KA eating in the corner of the airport. They conducted a search and found IDR 5 million in cash and the backpack. Police have said that ‘the suspect committed the theft due to economic problems. The theft was carried out spontaneously. Incidentally, there was an opportunity to act”. 

The porter managers immediately informed the Airport Police and contacted the airline of the victim to ensure that he was informed of the situation as soon as possible. AKBP Wikarniti confirmed, “we secured the suspect and the evidence in the form of one hundred IDR 50,000 notes, a backpack that was broken into, a boarding pass, and the clothes”. KA has been charged with Article 362 of the Criminal Code regarding the threat. He faced up to five years in prison for his actions. 

This is not the first incident of theft at Bali Airport this year so far. On Sunday, 15th January, a freelance taxi driver was arrested after stealing the luggage of a Russian traveler, Ekaterina Venglovskala, 40.

Police arrested Putu Agus Sucipto, 40, was arrested after police were able to pinpoint the moment he stole the bags using CCTV footage. The Head of Criminal Investigation Unit of the Regional Police I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, IPTU Rionson Ritonga, said, “Chronologically, the victim landed at Ngurah Rai Airport, Sunday 15th at 01.40 WITA. Found out that her goods were missing at 03.00 WITA. Sunday afternoon at 11.00, WITA reported officially to the police. At 13.00 WITA, the perpetrator was arrested.”

However, some may say that Sucipto got off lightly. After her bags and belongings were found safe and in good order, Venglovskala agreed to a restorative justice meeting with Sucipto. Ritonga concluded the press conference by saying, “The victim wants to forgive the perpetrator. Even though restorative justice is resolved, they still follow the procedure. For example, [he made] a statement not to repeat similar acts. Both the perpetrator and the victim are each accompanied by legal advisors as witnesses.”

Though airport officials and airport police are quick to stamp out crime in the area, tourists are reminded to keep their wits about them at the airport. While all efforts are taken to ensure that criminals do not operate in and around the airport, the reality is that they do. Tourists are warned to always keep an eye on their luggage, never to leave their bags unattended, to keep valuable items out of sight, and to always ensure that bags are completely zipped up.