Two Chinese nationals have been arrested in Bali after allegedly stealing USD 1,500 in cash from an Australian tourist during a domestic flight from Jakarta to Denpasar.
The suspects, identified by their initials LDJ, 31, and LZ, 28, were apprehended by the Criminal Investigation Unit of the I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport Police following an investigation into the incident.
The theft reportedly took place on Sunday, 1 November 2026, aboard Batik Air flight ID 6508, which was travelling from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) in Jakarta to I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) in Bali.
The victim, identified as JAPB, 22, reportedly lost USD 1,500, equivalent to approximately IDR 27.2 million. The cash had been kept inside a blue backpack stored in the aircraft’s overhead cabin compartment.
How the Two Chinese Nationals Allegedly Stole Cash During the Flight
According to I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport Police Chief AKBP I Made Hendra Agustina, the two suspects allegedly posed as ordinary passengers before taking advantage of an opportunity to steal from the Australian tourist.
The incident occurred when the victim moved from his original seat to another seat towards the rear of the aircraft, leaving his backpack unattended in the overhead compartment.
The suspects allegedly used this opportunity to remove the blue backpack, take the cash inside and return the bag to its original position. They reportedly concealed the stolen money behind a black jacket to avoid attracting attention from other passengers.
Police investigations, supported by CCTV footage and other video evidence obtained during the investigation, suggest that the two suspects may have deliberately selected separate seats as part of their alleged operation.
One of the suspects was seated directly beneath the overhead compartment where the victim had stored his backpack.
Following the incident, the Australian passenger filed a police report on Monday, 2 November 2026. Airport police subsequently worked alongside Aviation Security (Avsec) personnel to identify and track down the suspects.
The investigation eventually led officers to an accommodation facility in the Jalan Kartika Plaza area of Kuta, Badung. The two suspects were arrested after police traced their movements using public transportation.
During the arrests, officers recovered USD 800 of the stolen money. The remaining cash has not been reported as recovered.
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Two Suspects Face Up to Seven Years in Prison
The two Chinese nationals are currently facing charges under Article 477, Paragraph (1), in conjunction with Article 20 of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code.
If convicted, they could face a maximum prison sentence of seven years or a fine of up to IDR 500 million.
However, police are continuing their investigation to establish whether the alleged theft was an opportunistic act or had been planned in advance.
Authorities also revealed that more than three cases of theft inside aircraft cabins had been reported between October and early November 2026.
In response to the incidents, police have reminded passengers to remain vigilant and take extra precautions when storing their belongings during flights.
Passengers are advised to keep cash, passports and other valuable items in a small personal bag that remains within their supervision rather than placing them in overhead compartments.
The warning comes as authorities continue investigating the latest case and examining the possibility of similar incidents involving theft from passengers travelling on domestic flights.
