photo by Bali Police
The Directorate of General Criminal Investigation of the Bali Police arrested three foreigners who broke into ATMs in Bali. There were of two separate groups that carried out actions with different modes. The Director-General of the Bali Police, Ary Satriyan, said that there were two foreigners from Turkey with the initials CY (33) and MB (34). Both were secured by police in Mengwi District, Badung, Bali, Monday (22/11/2021) after receiving a report from Bank Mandiri.
Bank Mandiri ATM placed in a mini-market in Denpasar City was damaged and a skimming device was installed.
“When checked, it turned out that there was damage to the ATM box where there should be a lock, but it was damaged. It turned out that there was a router and modem at the ATM,” said Ary.
Ary explained, after the police received the report, his party immediately arrived at a crime scene and checked the CCTV footage. The police suspected two foreigners who were making transactions at the ATM. Then on Monday (22/11/2021), both of them were arrested and confessed their actions.
Based on the results of the interrogation, CY was in charge for entering the router in the ATM box, which functions was to record customer data. Meanwhile, MB was in charge of installing a hidden camera in the ATM keypad area. The equipment recorded data and customer pins that made transactions at ATMs. The data went directly to perpetrators’ cellphones.
“They said they got this item from their friend from Korea. They were using an intermediary, we also got the name of the intermediary, and it is being investigated,” said Ary Satriyan.
Due to the actions of the two perpetrators, six Bank Mandiri customers suffered losses of between Rp. 30-50 million per person.
Another perpetrator was a Ukrainian citizen with the initials BK (33). BK’s arrest began with a report from a bank from Southeast Sulawesi (Sultra) to the Bali Police. One of their customers became a victim of skimming. The skimming transaction was recorded at a mini-market in Ungasan, Bali.
The bank submitted CCTV footage as evidence. After monitoring at several ATMs in Ungasan, it was found that one foreigner behaved suspiciously at an ATM and her characteristics were like those of the alleged perpetrator. The woman was later arrested in Ungasan Village, South Kuta District, Badung, Wednesday (1/12/2021).
Based on the results of the interrogation, BK admitted her actions. She admitted that someone ordered her to make a transaction as a transfer from someone. Police are still investigating the person in question. She then transferred the money to OY’s virtual account in someone else’s name.
For the actions taken by BK, the total loss suffered by customers in Central Sulawesi reached Rp. 326 million. Now, the perpetrator is charged with Article 30 in conjunction with Article 46 of Law (UU) Number 19 of 2016 concerning amendments to Law Number 11 of 2008 concerning Information and Electronic Transactions (ITE) in conjunction with Article 55 of the Criminal Code (KUHP). She can be sentenced to 6 years in prison.