Bali Crime Alert: Rising Kidnappings and Assaults Targeting Tourists – What You Need to Know

[iNews24 reporter Kim Da-woon] The South Korean Embassy has warned that a string of violent crimes targeting foreigners — including kidnappings and murders — has hit Bali, Indonesia, a global tourist destination popular with Korean travelers for vacations and honeymoons.

On the 2nd (local time), the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Indonesia said violent crimes, including murder and sexual assault, have increased in well-known Bali tourist areas such as Seminyak, Canggu and Jimbaran.

Travelers on Bali-focused online communities also voiced concern.

One user advised, "If you're traveling alone, try to find someone to accompany you." They added, "Pre-book airport pickups or use hotel transfers, and avoid guesthouses if you're worried about safety."

Other comments included: "I won't take a GrabBike in Bali even if traffic is bad — it's not safe," "It looks like crimes against foreigners have been occurring around Canggu and Seminyak recently," and "It's normally a peaceful place, so it's alarming that these crimes are happening — travelers should be cautious."

On Feb. 15, a Ukrainian man in his 20s was reportedly kidnapped in Jimbaran while riding a motorcycle with a friend; authorities found his mutilated body on Feb. 26.

AFP reported the victim was the son of a wealthy businessman and that the kidnappers, who demanded several million dollars in ransom, subjected him to severe torture.

Local police arrested a man who rented the car used in the kidnapping, but the six other suspects he named reportedly fled abroad. Authorities said all of those suspects are foreign nationals.

On March 23, a Dutch man in Bali was fatally stabbed by two men on a motorcycle. Police have not yet apprehended the suspects in that case.

Bali has also seen several sexual assaults targeting female foreigners.

On March 23, a Chinese woman who had hailed a motorcycle taxi to return home was allegedly raped by the driver.

The following day, an Australian woman was allegedly sexually assaulted by a hotel security guard in a restroom at a Seminyak hotel; the day after that, a Chinese woman reported a similar incident involving a hotel employee in Canggu to local police.

Authorities say all of the recent sexual assaults against foreigners in Bali took place in the early morning hours, and police have arrested the suspects in those cases.