Iranian National Arrested for Stealing Cash at Munggu Minimarket

An Iranian national has been arrested by Badung Police for allegedly stealing cash from a minimarket in the Munggu area, Mengwi District, Badung, Bali. The 63-year-old suspect, identified by the initials MA, is accused of swiping money from the cashier using a money-changing ruse. “We immediately investigated the CCTV footage after receiving the report from the victim. Based on that lead, the Samong Opsnal Team arrested him at his accommodation in Kerobokan Kelod,” said Badung Police Criminal Investigation Unit Head AKP Azarul Ahmad on Thursday. The arrest followed the identification of the suspect from surveillance camera recordings. Police coordinated with immigration authorities and managed to track MA’s location in North Kuta. Officers also seized a small bag used by the suspect during the crime. When interrogated, MA confessed to the act after police showed him the CCTV footage from the scene. The foreign national admitted that the stolen money had already been spent on daily needs. Azarul revealed that the theft occurred at a minimarket on the Munggu-Tanah Lot Bypass Road in Munggu Village in mid-June. The victim, a store cashier, only realised that Rp 1.1 million was missing after counting the till. “The victim, Putu Dea, reported the incident on 15 June. She only noticed the Rp 1.1 million was missing from the cash drawer when the shop closed,” Azarul said. Azarul explained that MA initially came to the minimarket with a woman to buy two ice creams using a Rp 100,000 note. After receiving his change, the foreign man asked the cashier to exchange his banknotes for ones in better condition. “The perpetrator asked to exchange the change on the pretext of looking for notes in good condition. He handed over two Rp 50,000 notes and asked to choose the replacement notes himself,” Azarul stated. MA exploited the cashier’s momentary lapse in attention to carry out the theft. With a swift hand movement, the foreign national managed to take several banknotes from the cashier’s grasp. “When the cashier was distracted, the perpetrator immediately grabbed several Rp 100,000 notes from the pile. He put the money in his pocket and then left with his companion. We have detained the suspect for further investigation,” Azarul concluded.