BADUNG, BALINEWS – An employee of South Korean airline T’Way Air, identified by the initials MR, 33, has been arrested on suspicion of embezzling company funds totaling Rp689,560,000. Police said the money was allegedly used to finance online gambling activities.
MR, a native of Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, was arrested on Sunday (November 1, 2026), at a boarding house on Jalan Wijaya Kusuma, Air Hitam Village, Samarinda Ulu District, Samarinda, East Kalimantan.
I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport Police Chief AKBP I Made Hendra Agustina said the alleged embezzlement took place at T’Way Air’s office at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, between July 7 and November 16, 2025.
The case came to light after the company conducted an internal audit and discovered repeated withdrawals and transfers of operational funds allegedly carried out by MR. The total amount involved reached Rp689,560,000.
Following the discovery, T’Way Air’s representative in Indonesia, identified as DL, 36, a South Korean national, reported the alleged embezzlement to the I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport Police.
Police investigators subsequently launched an investigation that led them to MR. After receiving information about his whereabouts in Samarinda, the airport police's operational team coordinated with the Samarinda Police Jatanras team to arrest him.
“After being arrested, the suspect was taken to the I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport Police headquarters for questioning and further investigation,” Hendra said during a press conference at the police headquarters on Thursday (November 5, 2026).
During questioning, MR allegedly admitted to taking company funds amounting to Rp689,560,000. Investigators said he transferred the money from the company's operational account into his personal bank account and his wife's account.
“The suspect admitted that the money obtained from the embezzlement was used for online gambling,” Hendra said.
Police also seized several pieces of evidence, including Mandiri Bank account statements and a savings book under the name of T’Way Air Co., Ltd., the company's financial audit report, documents related to deposit requests, and a flash drive containing WhatsApp conversations between MR and DL.
The suspect has been charged under Article 492 of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) concerning fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison or a Category V fine.
He is also charged under Article 488 of the Criminal Code concerning embezzlement in office, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison or a Category V fine.
The investigation is ongoing.
