BALINEWSID.COM, DENPASAR – The Criminal Investigation Unit of West Denpasar Police (Polsek Denpasar Barat) has arrested a man identified by the initials SAP (30) for allegedly committing fraud and/or embezzlement against a resident in the Pemecutan Kelod area, West Denpasar.

The case was revealed following a police report numbered LP/B/35/IV/2026/SPKT/Polsek Denbar/Polresta Denpasar/Polda Bali dated April 4, 2026.

The incident occurred on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at approximately 4:30 p.m. local time, in front of House No. 76 on Jalan Pulau Galang, Pemecutan Kelod Village, West Denpasar District. The victim was identified as Rikha Gunawan (50), a resident of Jalan Gunung Sari, Denpasar.

Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of West Denpasar Police, IPTU Demiral Safriansyah, explained that the incident began when the victim ordered an online motorcycle taxi through the Maxim application at Tegal Harum Traditional Market. After being picked up and dropped off at the destination, the victim intended to make payment but did not have small cash.

“The suspect then offered assistance, claiming that the payment could be made through an application on a mobile phone. As the victim did not have the application, the suspect asked to borrow the victim’s phone under the pretext of downloading the app and completing the payment,” IPTU Demiral said.

However, while the victim was waiting, the suspect did not return the phone. Taking advantage of the situation, the suspect fled the scene with the victim’s mobile phone.

As a result of the incident, the victim lost an Infinix mobile phone in Titanium Silver color along with its SIM card, with total losses estimated at Rp1.2 million. The victim subsequently reported the case to West Denpasar Police.

Following the report, an operational team led by IPTU Demiral Safriansyah along with IPDA I Made Wicaksana immediately launched an investigation. Based on crime scene analysis and gathered information, the suspect was tracked to the Pemogan area in South Denpasar.

“The suspect was eventually apprehended at a boarding house on Jalan Raya Pemogan,” he added.

During interrogation, the suspect admitted to the crime. He was found not to be a registered online motorcycle taxi driver but used a Gojek jacket to convince victims and manually look for passengers.

“The motive was economic factors. The suspect pretended to be an online driver, offered assistance with payment through an application, and then took the victim’s phone when the opportunity arose,” IPTU Demiral explained.

Police also secured several pieces of evidence, including the victim’s mobile phone, a blue and white Honda Vario motorcycle with license plate DK 5621 UAV, a green Gojek jacket, and a black Cargloss helmet.

The suspect and evidence are currently being held at West Denpasar Police Station for further legal proceedings.

For his actions, the suspect is charged under Articles 492 and/or 486 of the Indonesian Criminal Code, which carry a maximum penalty of up to four years in prison.