Seven Foreign Nationals Named Suspects in Bali Kidnapping as Mutilated Body Parts Discovered

Komarov’s whereabouts remain unknown, and authorities have not confirmed whether he is alive.

Denpasar, Bali.  Bali police have named seven foreign nationals as suspects in the alleged kidnapping of a 28-year-old Ukrainian man, Igor Komarov, as investigators work to determine whether mutilated human body parts found on the island are connected to the case.

Expat safety resources

Komarov’s whereabouts remain unknown, and authorities have not confirmed whether he is alive.

Bali Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Ariasandy said the suspects were identified after officers arrested a foreign national identified as CH, who was attempting to flee to West Nusa Tenggara province. CH is accused of renting vehicles used in the alleged abduction with a false passport.

“Initially, we secured one foreign national with the initials CH, who rented vehicles using a false passport,” Ariasandy said in Denpasar. “Following further investigation, we named six other foreign nationals as suspects — RM, BK, AS, VN, SM and DH. All are men.”

Police said the investigation began after a friend of Komarov reported the alleged kidnapping. A joint team processed the crime scene and reviewed CCTV footage, identifying a rented Toyota Avanza and two motorcycles believed to have been used in the incident.

Criminal defense attorney

The vehicles were traced via CCTV and GPS data to a villa in Tabanan regency. Investigators believe the villa was used as the location where Komarov recorded a livestream video that later circulated online, in which he appeared injured and asked his family to pay a $10 million ransom.

Social media posts have claimed Komarov is the son of a Dnipro-based crime figure nicknamed “Narik,” though Indonesian authorities have not confirmed those allegations. In a three-minute video widely shared online, Komarov appears with a bruised eye and bandaged arm, saying his captors demanded $10 million, which he claims was money allegedly taken from them. In another clip, he appears to admit involvement in operating scam call centers targeting Russian citizens by posing as bank security officers.

Bali real estate

Police have not independently verified the claims made in the videos.

At the Tabanan villa, investigators discovered bloodstains that forensic testing later matched with blood found inside the rented vehicle allegedly used by the suspects.

All seven suspects, including CH, are now in custody. Police said the investigation is ongoing to determine each suspect’s role and the motive behind the alleged abduction.

Komarov was reported missing on Feb. 15 after he and several friends went to practice riding motorcycles on a steep road in Jimbaran, Badung regency. He was riding at the back of the group when unidentified men allegedly attacked him and the friend he was with. The friend managed to escape and report the incident to authorities.

Kidnapping prevention guide

Separately, on Thursday afternoon, residents discovered mutilated human body parts near the Wos River estuary in Banjar Keden, Ketewel village, Sukawati district, Gianyar regency. The remains were taken to RSUP Prof Ngoerah for forensic examination.

Forensic specialists estimate the body parts had been dead for approximately three days before being recovered. Due to decomposition, visual identification is not possible, and DNA testing is underway.

Bali Police’s Disaster Victim Identification team has collected DNA samples and plans to compare them with those of families who have reported missing relatives, including Komarov’s family.

Authorities have not confirmed whether the remains are linked to the kidnapping. Police say both investigations are ongoing, with DNA analysis expected to determine whether the cases are connected.

Police training equipment

Editor’s note: The headline has been updated to reflect the latest developments. We regret the error.