Deceiving Tourists, Owner of Travel Agency in Labuan Bajo Detained by Police

West Manggarai Resort Police have designated and detained the owner of the “Labuan Bajo Top” travel agency, initials KA (32), as a suspect. He is strongly suspected of committing fraud and misappropriating funds amounting to Rp 85.2 million belonging to a group of tourists from Malaysia and Singapore. The suspect, residing in Rana Mbeling, North Kota Komba Subdistrict, East Manggarai, has been held in the West Manggarai Police Detention Centre since Saturday (9/5), yesterday, and will undergo a 20-day detention period for investigation purposes. The designation of suspect status and detention refers to Police Report number LP/B/63/V/2026/SPKT/Polres Manggarai Barat/Polda NTT. “The travel agency owner has been officially designated as a suspect and detained since yesterday. We will not tolerate any practices that harm tourists and damage the reputation of our tourism,” emphasised the Head of Criminal Investigation Unit of West Manggarai Resort Police, AKP Lufthi Darmawan Aditya, when contacted by CNNIndonesia.com on Sunday (10/5). Premium package promise The case originated from a transaction conducted by the victim, SS (34), a Malaysian resident representing his group, with the suspect’s travel agency between March and May 2026. The victim had fully paid for a premium tourism package that included chartering the MY MOON boat for 4 days and 3 nights, accommodation at Hotel Flamingo Avia, and entrance fees to Komodo National Park. However, a bitter reality unfolded when the group of 8 adults and 2 children arrived at Komodo International Airport in Labuan Bajo on Thursday (7/5). Instead of receiving the agreed facilities, they were taken to Hotel Green Perundi, which was not part of the original agreement. Worse still, the MY MOON boat operators refused to operate because they had not received any payment from the suspect. “The victim had paid in full according to the agreement, but on the ground, the facilities did not match the promise. When contacted, the suspect was very difficult to reach. The tourist group was nearly stranded,” revealed AKP Lufthi. Mediation efforts by the Tourism Unit of the Security and Order Unit of West Manggarai Resort Police that night also ended in deadlock. The police finally took firm action by securing KA for further questioning. Tourists’ money spent The examination results showed that the suspect admitted to all his actions. He confessed that the Rp 85.2 million funds deposited by the victim were not used for tourism operational needs but were instead misused for personal interests. As a result, payments to the boat owner and hotel management were outstanding, preventing the promised services from being fulfilled. For his actions, KA is now charged under Article 492 of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the new Criminal Code (KUHP), regarding the criminal act of fraud. He faces a maximum prison sentence of 4 years or a category V fine. “Our current focus is to complete the case file so it can be immediately handed over to the Prosecutor’s Office. We want to ensure justice for the victim while providing a deterrent effect for similar perpetrators,” added AKP Lufthi. Police urge vigilance Although they experienced a bad incident and deep disappointment, the group of tourists from Malaysia and Singapore were still able to continue their journey to the Komodo National Park area. Thanks to quick coordination by the police and local government, they were redirected to use another boat, KM Gajah Putih, to complete their tourism visit schedule. This case serves as an important lesson for Labuan Bajo’s tourism. The police once again urge all tourists, both domestic and foreign, to be more thorough and cautious in choosing travel service providers. Tourists are advised to verify the credibility of agencies through official channels or registered travel associations to avoid similar losses. “Ensure that the chosen travel agency has official permits and a clear track record. The safety and comfort of tourists is our priority, and we will continue to crack down firmly on any violations that occur,” concluded AKP Lufthi.