Indian Tourist Loses Rp 23 Million in Kuta After Being Asked to Smell Scented Substance

A female Indian tourist with the initials SOM has allegedly fallen victim to theft in the Sunset Road area of Kuta, Badung, Bali. The 45-year-old woman suffered a loss exceeding Rp 23 million. Prior to the incident, SOM was asked to smell a scented substance by an unknown individual.

‘The victim explained that she lost cash amounting to 100 USD, 9 million VND, 60,000 INR, and Rp 6 million. The total loss is Rp 23,310,000,’ said Denpasar Police Public Relations Head, Iptu I Gede Adi Saputra Jaya, on Saturday.

According to SOM’s statement to the police, the incident began when she and her child were looking for food outside their hotel on Monday evening. While searching for a taxi behind the hotel, SOM was approached by an unknown man, woman, and two children. They then engaged the victim in conversation about her home country. During the conversation, SOM admitted she was asked to smell a substance that was claimed to have a fragrant aroma. After smelling the substance, SOM and her child felt dizzy and unwell.

SOM was then taken into a car by the unknown man. Meanwhile, SOM’s child was asked to show the hotel where they were staying under the pretext of retrieving money. Still feeling unwell, SOM cancelled the dinner plan with her child and returned to the hotel room. Upon arriving in the room, SOM discovered that the cash stored in the room’s drawer had vanished. The Indian woman subsequently reported the case to the Denpasar Police.

Adi explained that police have processed the crime scene and examined CCTV footage from the surrounding area. Police have also taken statements from the victim and several witnesses regarding the suspected theft. ‘Currently, the Jatanras unit of the Denpasar Police is conducting an intensive investigation into the victim’s report,’ Adi said.