Two Iranian men have been arrested for allegedly impersonating a police officer and robbing a Chinese tourist in the popular tourist district of Kuta in Bali.
The suspects, Shiraziniya Azad, 53, and Shirazi Nia Hossein, 40, reportedly stole US$1,400 from their victim.
Denpasar Police chief Sr. Comr. Ruddi Setiawan said on Monday that the two Iranians had tricked the Chinese man in front of Kuta Centre Park hotel on Jl. Patih Jelantik on Jan 30.
“The victim was walking when the two suspects approached him by car. They said that they were the police’s drug squad and had to search him,” Ruddi said.
The suspects conducted a body search of the victim and searched his belongings. When searching the victim’s wallet, the suspects allegedly took the money in bank notes.
They left the victim after they took the money. The Chinese man, who was not identified, later reported the case to the police.
CCTV footage of the crime scene helped track the registered plate number of the car used by the suspects, which led the police to find the two at a restaurant on Jl. Raya Tuban on Feb. 1.
Ruddi said Hossein had been in the car while Azad searched the victim’s belongings.
“We are working to find out whether there were other people involved,” he said, adding that police were working to prevent more tourists from becoming the target of crime.
The suspects reportedly told the police they had used the money for their daily expenses.
The suspects will be charged under Article 363 of the Criminal Code on theft, which carries a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment.
Source: Jakarta Post
Photo: Bali Post