Bali police have arrested two Russian nationals on suspicion of pimping. These rather unconventional digital nomads, a 26-year-old woman, A.K., and a 31-year-old man, M.T., are being investigated in connection with online prostitution.
Such services in tourist areas are nothing new—some business operators run full-scale brothels, and police regularly detain and deport women from various countries, some of whom even give interviews. However, an international network of sex services is something unprecedented for Bali. According to police statements, the suspects allegedly managed sex workers from 129 different countries, operating their illicit business for two years.
Badung Police Chief Muhammad Said Hussein stated that, so far, the accused have only admitted to controlling 15 women and have been reluctant to disclose more details during interrogations. Investigators are also verifying their claims about the number of clients they had over two years. Hussein has reason to doubt their statements, as the suspects claimed they had only one paying client.
The cost of booking a sex worker was $350 per session. One of the women working under the couple’s control was caught red-handed in Canggu, along with her foreign client. Police are now tracking down other women involved in the operation.
A.K. is believed to be the key operator of this international network in Bali. She managed the website, handled financial transactions, listed the WhatsApp numbers of prostitutes on the platform, distributed earnings, and supervised each worker. She also arranged meeting locations between sex workers and clients.
Bali police are now coordinating with other law enforcement agencies, including the National Police Headquarters, to dismantle the network’s branches in other locations. So far, detectives have not disclosed the 11 other cities where this service was operating.
The investigation began after several sex workers and clients came forward with details about how services were arranged. It was then discovered that this online platform had been operating in Bali for a long time. A cybercrime team was brought in to track the website used by the suspects.
The business model was simple:
1. A new worker would register on the website, fill out a form, and provide contact details.
2. The business owners handled client acquisition.
3. Clients had to create an account on the website, select their country and city, then browse the catalog of available women and contact a manager.
4. Payments were processed through the website manager.
5. The worker received only 50% of the earnings, while 40% went to A.K. and 10% to M.T.
At the suspects’ arrest location in North Kuta, police found multiple pieces of evidence, including passports, 17 mobile phones, laptops, local and foreign bank cards, and 305 SIM cards used for transactions.
The detained suspects are currently in custody at Badung Police Headquarters. They have been charged under Article 1, Section 45 of Law No. 1 of 2024 on Electronic Information and Transactions, facing a maximum sentence of six years in prison and a fine of up to 1 billion rupiahs.
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