“They are an organized crime group. They have committed many crimes, including those having to do with robbery and money changers,” Bali Police Chief Petrus Golose said yesterday, as quoted by Merdeka. 

In March, Bali Police shot dead a Russian man, identified as Alexei Korotkikh, for reportedly resisting arrest and trying to attack officers. Korotkikh was part of a group allegedly responsible for a robbery at a money exchange office in Benoa, in the southern part of the island, where they allegedly beat several employees and knocked them unconscious. 

The group reportedly made off with IDR 900 million (USD 63,800), but were pursued by the police mere hours after the incident. Three suspects, including Korotkikh, engaged in a violent encounter with police officers while the other two – identified as Georgii Zhukov and Robert Haupt – were arrested. 

Zhukov and Haupt are awaiting trial at the Denpasar Court, according to a statement from the Bali Police. 

“They were prepared before their attack and we are currently looking for the other suspects,” Petrus said. 

The police said on Tuesday that officers had found a rifle they believe belonged to a member of the Mobile Brigade Corps, as reported by Tribun-Bali. The rifle, which had reportedly been missing for the past three years, was found inside a car in North Kuta. According to officers, the rifle had been stolen by the same group.