A Russian national, identified as KA (30), has been apprehended by Bali police in connection with the kidnapping and robbery of Ukrainian tourist Igor Iermakov. KA was detained at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport on Thursday (January 30) while attempting to flee to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The crime, which took place on December 15, 2024, involved an organized gang of foreign nationals—allegedly nine in total—targeting Iermakov for his crypto assets. The group is accused of stealing approximately IDR 3.4 billion worth of digital currency from his account after kidnapping him and his driver.
According to Bali Police spokesperson Kombespol Ariasandy, the ordeal began as Iermakov and his driver, identified only by the initial A, were travelling in a white BMW along Jalan Tundun Penyu Dipal in Ungasan Village, South Kuta, Badung Regency. Suddenly, two vehicles—a Toyota Alphard and another unidentified car—blocked their path from the front and rear.
Four masked individuals, clad in black and armed with knives, hammers, and pistols, exited one of the cars and forcibly removed the victim and his driver. The attackers handcuffed them, covered their heads with black hoods, and forced them into one of the vehicles.
The victims were then taken to a villa in South Kuta, where the perpetrators confiscated Iermakov’s cell phone and violently coerced him into transferring his crypto assets to two accounts allegedly belonging to the gang. Reports indicate that the attackers beat the victim to ensure his compliance.
Arrest at the Airport
KA was arrested at Ngurah Rai Airport during his attempted escape. A joint team from Bali Police and Ngurah Rai Immigration detained him at 7:00 PM local time. “Yes, it is true that one of the nine individuals reported by the victim was arrested last night,” confirmed Kombespol Ariasandy. KA was immediately transferred to the Bali Police General Criminal Investigation Directorate (Ditreskrimum) for interrogation.
In photos provided by the authorities, KA can be seen wearing a beige hoodie over a black t-shirt. However, police are still investigating KA’s exact role in the crime. “At the moment, we are holding him temporarily at the Ditreskrimum office to determine whether he is truly involved,” added Ariasandy.
Ongoing Hunt for Other Perpetrators
The remaining eight suspects are still at large, and the Bali Police are actively pursuing leads to apprehend them. The robbery gained widespread attention after a video of the incident circulated online, showing the violent kidnapping and theft of crypto assets.
Authorities believe this case highlights the risks faced by individuals with significant digital assets. After being taken from the villa in South Kuta, Iermakov was reportedly moved to another location in Ubud, where the attackers forced him to unlock his Binance account, allowing them access to his cryptocurrency wallet.
The victim reported a total loss of around IDR 3.2 billion due to the incident. Police investigations are ongoing to uncover the full extent of the organized crime network and to bring all perpetrators to justice.
This shocking case underscores the importance of vigilance and cybersecurity, particularly for individuals with substantial digital assets.
