GIANYAR, Bali – An Iranian national has been arrested in Bali for allegedly stealing cash from an Australian tourist through a distraction scam involving a currency exchange request in Ubud, police said.

The suspect, identified by the initials AF, 52, was taken into custody following an investigation into the incident, which occurred on May 18, 2026, at a retail store in Ubud, Gianyar Regency.

According to Gianyar Police Chief AKBP Chandra Kesuma, the Australian victim reported the case three days after the incident.

Police allege that AF approached the victim and requested assistance with exchanging money. During the interaction, the suspect allegedly used the exchange process as a distraction before taking the victim’s cash.

“The suspect used a money exchange request as a distraction to steal the victim’s cash,” Chandra said during a press conference on Friday.

Investigators later tracked AF to a hotel in Denpasar, where he was arrested on May 21. Officers found him alone in his room at the time of the arrest.

“The suspect was apprehended at the hotel where he was staying. He was alone when officers made the arrest,” Chandra said.

Authorities believe the suspect may have acted with an accomplice. CCTV footage from the store reportedly shows a second individual, believed to be a foreign woman, participating in the scheme.

Police have not yet confirmed the woman’s identity and are continuing efforts to locate her. Investigators are relying on surveillance footage, witness descriptions, and information obtained during the investigation.

“We identified two suspects from the CCTV footage—one male and one female. The male suspect has been arrested, while the female suspect remains under investigation and is still being sought,” Chandra said.

During the arrest, police seized multiple foreign currencies allegedly linked to the case, including Australian dollars, Singapore dollars, euros, and U.S. dollars believed to belong to the victim.

AF has been named a suspect and remains in police custody as investigators continue searching for the second individual allegedly involved in the incident.

The investigation remains ongoing.