Jakarta, ThedailyID — Police in Bali are investigating a Chinese tourist’s report that jewelry worth US$10,000, or approximately Rp179 million, went missing from her suitcase during a holiday on the island.
The tourist, identified by the initials XL, discovered the missing jewelry after arriving at a hotel in Lovina, Buleleng Regency, on Monday, October 5. She suspected someone had tampered with her suitcase while it was inside a travel vehicle.
Buleleng Police spokesperson First Inspector Yohana Rosalin Diaz confirmed that the incident allegedly occurred at around 10 p.m. local time. Police received the official report on Tuesday, October 6.
Authorities are coordinating with South Denpasar Police and Denpasar City Police because investigators suspect the incident may have occurred within South Denpasar’s jurisdiction.
“An investigation has been conducted, and initial examinations of witnesses have taken place,” Yohana said on Sunday, October 11.
Police have questioned several people involved in the tourist group’s journey, including the tour guide, driver, and hotel staff.
According to XL’s account to investigators, she had stored the jewelry inside a box in her suitcase. She left the suitcase in the luggage compartment of a travel vehicle while she and seven other Chinese tourists visited Nusa Penida.
The group departed from a hotel in Kuta on Monday morning and headed to Serangan Port in South Denpasar. They crossed to Nusa Penida at around 8 a.m.
While the tourists were away, the driver, identified by the initials MSA, returned the vehicle to a garage on Jalan Pulau Roti in South Denpasar. He left the vehicle locked and returned at around 2:30 p.m. to collect the group from the port.
The driver and tour guide later took the group to their hotel in Lovina. When XL arrived at around 10 p.m., she noticed that the combination code on her suitcase had changed. After opening it, she discovered that the jewelry box was missing.
XL then asked the tour guide and driver to take responsibility for the loss. The travel service provider subsequently accompanied her and her husband to Buleleng Police to file a report.
Police are continuing to investigate the incident and gather witness statements. They have not yet established who took the jewelry or confirmed where the alleged theft occurred.
