Muggers have a way of disappearing into thin air, but police in Bali were apparently able to pin one down before he made off to Java.
An Indonesian man was arrested at Bali’s Port of Gilimanuk this week, allegedly trying to make his way with IDR24 million (US$1,651) worth of stuff he stole from an Australian citizen in Canggu.
The mugging took place on Nov. 6, around 4pm as the victim and her friend were returning to Canggu from a trip to Mertasari Beach.
At that time, the suspect, who has been identified in local news reports as Santoso, 33, allegedly snatched the 55-year-old victim’s bag and sped off on motorbike.
However, his apparent success was short-lived, as police apprehended the man when he was buying a ferry ticket at the port on Nov. 27.
After he was arrested, Santoso, 33, confessed to the mugging, Gilimanuk Marine Area Police Chief Comr. Nyoman Subawa told reporters on Wednesday.
“Gilimanuk Sub-District Police received cadets from South Denpasar Police to intercept and secure a mugging suspect, Santoso, who was going to cross to Java. Officers around the port saw the suspected perpetrator near the ticket window, at the entrance to Ketapang,” Subawa told Detik.
Officers at the port confirmed Santoso’s identity with South Denpasar Police. From there, the suspect was taken in for further questioning.
“When being interrogated, he admitted that he had taken or grabbed items and some money belonging to a foreign visitor in the Canggu area. Furthermore, the perpetrator and evidence has been delegated to the South Denpasar Police Criminal Investigation team for further investigation,” he said.
“The evidence seized from Santoso is in the form of rupiah, Czech currency, and Pound Sterling, an Apple laptop, one digital camera, one Huawei cellphone, a power bank, notebook, and a brown wallet containing the identity of the victim,” Subawa said.
