Two foreign tourists, including 35-year-old Matthew Daniel Lambden from England, were deceived in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), after they were promised a snorkelling experience at an exotic location.
However, what was supposed to be an exciting adventure turned into a distressing ordeal as they were misled by a local driver, who falsely advertised a destination that did not meet expectations.
The incident began when Matthew and his companion, a Filipino national, sought a new snorkelling destination after booking a trip to Komodo National Park. Matthew, eager to find an alternative, posted on a Facebook group seeking recommendations for good snorkelling spots.
He was quickly contacted by a man identified only as ‘H,’ who suggested a trip to Nuca Molas (Mules Island), a location about four hours from Labuan Bajo. H promised that Nuca Molas offered superior snorkelling opportunities compared to the closer Kanawa Island, which Matthew had originally planned to visit.
Despite reservations, Matthew and his friend decided to follow H’s recommendation, believing it to be a better option. They were picked up from their accommodation in Labuan Bajo by H, who, according to Matthew, exhibited unprofessional behaviour during the journey.
Snorkelling Adventure Ends in Disappointment
Upon reaching the boat crossing point, Matthew and his companion were shocked to find that they were asked to board a makeshift styrofoam raft, measuring just 1×2 meters, to cross to the boat. The crossing was reportedly manual, lasting approximately 10 minutes.
@detiktravel Setelah kembali ke Labuan Bajo, Mattew membagikan pengalamannya melalui postingan di grup Facebook. Tak lama kemudian, ia dihubungi oleh H yang memintanya menghapus unggahan tersebut. H bahkan mengancam akan mendatangi homestay tempat Mattew menginap. Merasa terancam, Mattew membuat laporan ke SPKT Polres Manggarai Barat sekitar pukul 23.30 Wita. Sejumlah anggota Buser Satreskrim Polres Manggarai Barat terlihat berada di ruang SPKT usai laporan dibuat. Mereka berkoordinasi untuk mengejar pelaku dan memastikan keamanan Mattew. Baca berita selengkapnya hanya di detik.com! Creator: Risa #detikcom #penipuanturis #labuanbajo ♬ original sound – detikTravel
After the raft ride, the tourists were taken to a boat that appeared to be in poor condition and had engine problems.
Eventually, they arrived at Nuca Molas, only to discover that the location did not live up to the expectations set by H. There were no snorkelling spots as promised.
Despite paying IDR 2 million (approximately £120) for the trip, the tourists were left disappointed and without the experience they had anticipated.
Incident Escalates to Police Report and Apology
After the disappointing trip, Matthew shared his experience on Facebook, warning others about the deceptive tour operator.
However, H contacted him soon after, demanding that the post be deleted. H even threatened to visit Matthew’s homestay. Feeling threatened, Matthew filed a report at the Manggarai Barat Police Station later that night.
Following the report, the police began their investigation and brought the two suspects, identified as TS (29) and YP (29), both local drivers, in for questioning. These individuals are not licensed tour guides but instead work as intercity travel drivers.
Despite initially denying the allegations, the two suspects eventually issued an apology.
“We brought the victim together with the suspected perpetrators. The victim decided not to pursue the case further after receiving an apology from the suspected perpetrators,” confirmed AKP Lufthi Darmawan Aditya, Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit at Manggarai Barat Police Station, as reported by Detiknews.
Matthew, who had initially sought legal redress, chose to settle the matter amicably after receiving the apology.
