DENPASAR, BALINEWS – The Bali Regional Police, in coordination with district-level police criminal investigation units, have uncovered an alleged vehicle embezzlement syndicate known as “Sidatapa” and arrested five suspects believed to have played various roles in the operation, including vehicle embezzlement, handling stolen vehicles, and producing counterfeit identity cards.
The case was announced at a press conference held in the lobby of the Bali Police Criminal Investigation Directorate on Monday, October 26, 2026. AKBP Belnas Pali Padang, Head of Sub-Directorate III of the Directorate of General Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimum), said the investigation stemmed from 25 police reports involving 21 victims, all of whom were vehicle rental business owners whose vehicles allegedly had not been returned after being rented.
The five suspects were identified by their initials as PDN, 23, from Buleleng, who is suspected of involvement in vehicle embezzlement and handling stolen property; GHPA, 30, from Tabanan; PN, 38, and KA, 40, both from Buleleng, who are suspected of receiving stolen vehicles; and NAA, 43, from Denpasar, who is suspected of producing counterfeit identity documents.
According to Belnas, the alleged syndicate had been operating for years, using a method in which suspects rented vehicles with identities that did not match their actual identities, including counterfeit Indonesian identity cards, known as Kartu Tanda Penduduk (KTP).
After obtaining the vehicles through rental agreements, the suspects allegedly failed to return them as agreed and instead transferred them to other parties. In several cases, vehicles were also allegedly used to demand ransom payments from their owners through intermediaries.
The joint investigation team arrested GHPA at a hotel in the Lovina area and PDN at a hotel in Tangguwisia Village, Seririt, Buleleng Regency, on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Further investigations led officers to PN and KA, who were allegedly involved in receiving vehicles from the network. Both were arrested in Buleleng, where police also seized several pieces of evidence.
Investigators subsequently traced the identities used in the vehicle rental transactions, leading them to NAA. On Sunday, October 25, 2026, the police Mobile Investigation Team (Resmob) arrested NAA and seized equipment allegedly used to produce counterfeit documents, including computer equipment and printers.
During questioning, NAA allegedly admitted to producing counterfeit KTP cards on six occasions at PN’s request. The documents were reportedly made using a computer, image-editing software, a printer, and card materials purchased through online stores. NAA allegedly received IDR 500,000 for each counterfeit identity card produced.
Meanwhile, GHPA allegedly admitted to involvement in six incidents of handling stolen property. PDN also described involvement in several transactions involving four-wheeled vehicles in 2024 and 2025, in which the original owners subsequently redeemed their vehicles through intermediaries.
In 2026, PDN allegedly admitted to embezzling a motorcycle and demanding a payment from its owner to recover it. PDN also reportedly received vehicles suspected of being connected to criminal activity before transferring them to other parties.
Police seized several items of evidence, including four motorcycles—one Honda ADV and three Yamaha NMAX units—as well as vehicle ownership documents (BPKB), registration certificates (STNK), rental agreements, and genuine and counterfeit identity cards.
Other seized items included three printers, an HP laptop, an iPhone 17 Pro, a hard drive, KTP card materials, ink, a laminating machine, cutting tools, and other equipment and materials allegedly associated with counterfeit document production. Police also recovered documents suspected of being counterfeit, including KTP cards and motorcycle driving licenses (SIM C), along with IDR 34,000 in cash.
Belnas emphasized that the suspects’ statements were still being investigated and cross-checked against physical evidence, victim reports, and information obtained from relevant parties. Investigators are continuing to trace vehicles that have not yet been recovered, identify potential additional victims, and examine whether other individuals may have been involved.
The suspects are being investigated under several criminal provisions, depending on their alleged roles, including Article 486 of the Indonesian Criminal Code concerning embezzlement, Article 591 concerning handling stolen property, Articles 392 and/or 391 concerning document forgery, and Article 93 of Law No. 23 of 2006 on Population Administration, as amended by Law No. 24 of 2013.
The Bali Regional Police have urged vehicle rental operators to strengthen their security procedures by carefully verifying customers’ identities, ensuring that identification documents match the individuals presenting them, retaining rental agreements, and considering the use of GPS tracking technology. Police also emphasized that identity verification should be conducted proportionately and with due regard for customers’ personal data protection.
Members of the public who encounter suspected fraud, the use of counterfeit identities, or rental vehicles that have not been returned and may be linked to criminal activity are encouraged to report the matter to the nearest police station or contact the police emergency service at 110.
People who believe they may have been victims of similar incidents but have not yet filed a report are also encouraged to come forward and provide information to investigators.
The Bali Regional Police stated that the investigation would continue, focusing on locating outstanding vehicles, identifying additional victims, and examining possible involvement by other parties.
The police stressed that cooperation between law enforcement and the public remains essential to uncovering criminal networks, assisting victims, and strengthening public confidence in Bali’s security.
