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Four arrested over illegal fees in Bali
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Tourists watch traditional Balinese Kecak Dance at Uluwatu Temple on Bali. (shutterstock.com/Alexander Mazurkevich/File)
T
he illegal fees eradication task force of Bangli Police has arrested four people allegedly involved in illegal fees extracted from tourists visiting the Kintamani tourism area in Bangli regency, Bali.
The four suspects, identified only by their initials as INDD, 47, IKS,47, INM, 46, and INL, 47, had collected illegal entrance fees at several spots in Kintamani, Bali Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Hengky Widjaja said Monday.
“Our team has also seized more than Rp 30 million (US$2,251) from them,” Hengky added.
The arrests were conducted on Sunday afternoon following tip-offs from residents about alleged cheating by ticket officials at the posts. A preliminary investigation suggested the suspects, working as ticket sellers, collected money from tourists in violation of procedures.
(Read also: Bali police to combat drug abuse, terrorism)
Based on a Bangli regency bylaw, there are different fees for domestic and foreign tourists to enter the Kintamani tourism area. Foreign tourists are charged Rp 31,000 for adults and Rp 25,000 for children, while Indonesians pay Rp 16,000 for adults and Rp 10,000 for children. Additional fees are charged for vehicles entering the area, such Rp 2,000 for minibuses, Rp 5,000 for buses and Rp 1,000 for motorcycles.
However, police alleged the suspects received money from tourist guides without actually selling any tickets. In one incident, they allegedly handed only six tickets to a group of tourists who had paid for eight.
Another alleged method to extract a profit was to charge foreigners the foreigner price but give them domestic tourist tickets.
Police say they will charge the suspects under the 2001 corruption law, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison or Rp 1 billion in fines.
