One Russian national was reportedly shot dead and another is in critical condition after Bali police tracked down a gang allegedly responsible for the violent robbery of a money exchange yesterday.
The confrontation with the suspects took place just hours after the robbery of IDR900 million (US$63,277) from the BMC Bali Maspintjinra money exchange in Benoa, in the southern part of the island. Denpasar Police said the gang allegedly involved with the crime was comprised of six men and one woman, all from Russia.
According to a report by Jawa Pos, officers caught up with the seven at a boarding house in Jimbaran at about 1:30pm yesterday. While four managed to escape in a car, the remaining three suspects engaged in a violent encounter with police that ended with one under arrest and two shot — one fatally — Tribun Bali reported, citing a police source.
Officers at the scene secured rifles, bayonets, screwdrivers, raincoats, gloves, and seven passports as evidence.
In addition to yesterday’s holdup in Benoa, the gang is thought to be responsible for a similar incident in the resort area of Kuta at the end of 2018.
During yesterday’s robbery, local staff members were reportedly beaten and bound as gang members forced their way into the safe, taking IDR800 million in cash and a further IDR100 million in foreign currency.
An earlier version of this story cited a Bali Post story that suggested the second individual shot had died.
