Eyewitness – Badung
A joint task force from the Denpasar Police Criminal Investigation Unit (Sat Reskrim) and the Kuta Sector Police raided a guest house on Jalan By Pass Ngurah Rai, Kedonganan, Kuta, on Monday afternoon (April 27, 2026). The operation was launched following a formal report from the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta regarding the alleged confinement of Philippine nationals intended for forced labor as online scam operators.
The raid was led personally by the Denpasar City Police Chief, Senior Commissioner Leonardo D. Simatupang, accompanied by Head of Criminal Investigation Commissioner Agus Riwayanto, Head of Intelligence Commissioner I Nyoman Sumantara, and Kuta Police Chief Commissioner Laksmi Trisnadewi.
​Upon arrival, authorities discovered several foreign nationals and an Indonesian citizen residing at the premises. A search revealed that multiple rooms on the second floor had been converted into makeshift workstations, equipped with laptops and high-speed Starlink internet infrastructure.
​Evidence and Detainees
A total of 27 individuals were taken into custody, comprising 26 foreign nationals and one Indonesian citizen. Among them were Philippine and Kenyan nationals found without valid passports. Police also seized a significant cache of evidence, including:
• ​Dozens of smartphones and iPads
• ​Laptops and networking equipment
• ​Attributes and uniforms resembling foreign law enforcement agencies
​Ongoing Investigation
Police Chief Leonardo D. Simatupang stated that all detainees are currently undergoing intensive screening and interrogation. The investigation is being conducted by a combined team from the Denpasar Police, Kuta Police, and the Bali Regional Police’s General Crimes and Cybercrime Directorates.
​”We are currently investigating the depth of these criminal allegations and have coordinated with Bali Immigration to verify the residency status of these foreign nationals,” the Police Chief said.
​The Denpasar Police Department and its subordinates continue to develop the case to dismantle the underlying syndicate and ensure the protection of those identified as victims.
Reporter : Daniel Herry
