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Photo: Nyoman Ferry Supriadi, S.H., accompanying his client, a Dutch tourist named Inggrid, 53
WordWartaGlobal. Id
DENPASAR – While intent on enjoying a long vacation, a Dutch tourist suffered a tragic fate. The woman, Inggrid, 53, claims to have been the victim of fraud and embezzlement of nearly IDR 1 billion by a man she met during her five-month vacation in Bali. The case was reported to the Denpasar Police on July 29, 2024. However, the legal process is currently considered to be stalled.
The incident began in January 2023. At the time, Inggrid was on vacation and staying at a hotel in the Kuta area of Badung. It was there that she met I Komang Agus Guna Wirawan, a local man known to be one of the managers at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Kuta. During their five-month stay at the hotel, their relationship grew closer.
Inggrid was even invited to meet Agus's wife and parents at his home on Jalan Mertanadi, Denpasar. Feeling like family, the woman of mixed Surabaya-Dutch descent began to trust Agus. "He often complained about financial problems, and my client even helped renovate his house because the roof was leaking," explained Inggrid, through her attorney, Nyoman Ferry Supriadi, S.H., in Denpasar on Wednesday (August 16th).
Furthermore, Agus also persuaded Inggrid to open a cafe together. He claimed he had a strategic location and offered a profitable profit-sharing system. Inggrid communicated with her family, including her husband, to support the plan. According to the transfer receipt, the funds were sent in four installments.
The first was US$50 on March 29, 2023, US$15,000 on March 31, 2023, US$15,000 on May 17, 2023, and US$15,000 on May 29, 2023. "If converted to rupiah, the total would be almost Rp 1 billion," Ferry explained. However, after the final transfer, Inggrid returned to the Netherlands after a stopover in Malaysia. Initial communication continued, and Agus claimed to have secured a business location in the Renon area and promised to sign the contract upon Inggrid's return.
Unfortunately, communication then broke down. Suspicious, Inggrid decided to secretly travel to Bali at the end of 2023 to inspect the location and meet Agus. "At that time, it turned out Agus was no longer working at the hotel. He had his own business, Rumah Momo Coffee Shop on Jalan Drupadi, Renon," Ferry explained.
When approached, Agus burst into tears and claimed the funds had already been used. Feeling her trust had been abused, Inggrid demanded the money back to cover medical expenses for her sick child in the Netherlands. Lacking good faith, the woman ultimately resorted to legal action.
A report was filed with the Denpasar Police on July 29, 2024, on suspicion of fraud and/or embezzlement as stipulated in Articles 378 and 372 of the Criminal Code. However, although the case has progressed to the investigation stage, no suspects have been named. "The legal process is very slow. The victim just wants justice to be served," asserted the lawyer, known as Ferry.
Meanwhile, when confirmed, the Head of the Denpasar Police Criminal Investigation Unit, Commissioner Laorens Rajamangapul Heselo, S.I.K., M.H., stated that he would monitor the progress of the investigation. "I'll check with my staff first to see how far along the process is," the former Head of the Badung Police Criminal Investigation Unit briefly stated.
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