DENPASAR, Bali — Bali Police have searched the rented home of an Indian national identified as JKR, 45, as investigators widen a probe into an alleged gold trading scam that has generated five police reports and reported losses of around Rp8.8 billion.
The search was carried out on October 19 at a property on Jalan Tukad Barito in Denpasar. Investigators seized a white Mercedes-Benz, a white BMW, a safe, five bank tokens and six bank books as part of efforts to trace company funds and secure additional evidence.
JKR has been named by police as the main reported party in complaints involving gold businesses linked to PT New Emas Now and PT New Divine Gems and Jewellery. Police say the case centres on gold purchase and buyback transactions that allegedly left customers without promised payments or products.
Complaints began reaching Bali Police in September. In the first report, filed on September 11, 23 customers claimed losses of around Rp6.8 billion. By September 21, police said they had received five reports involving 94 alleged victims, with combined reported losses reaching approximately Rp8.8 billion.
Victims told investigators they had been attracted by gold trading and buyback arrangements that promised favourable returns. One complainant said she had completed repeated transactions before payments eventually stopped, prompting customers to seek answers from the company.
The investigation expanded on September 29, when police searched Divine Gems & Jewellery on Jalan Raya Puputan in Denpasar. Officers seized computers, a printer, transaction documents and other items, and later said they had found gold-melting equipment and safes inside the premises.
Police said company operations had stopped at the store on September 11 and were moved to a factory on Jalan Tukad Badung.
The latest search of JKR’s home is now shifting attention toward the financial trail. Bali Police spokesperson Kombes Ariasandy said investigators plan to examine the seized banking records and trace transactions connected to the companies.
Police are also converting earlier witness interviews into formal examination records. Once that process is complete, investigators said JKR will be summoned through the Indian Embassy and the Indonesian National Police’s International Relations Division.
JKR has not been convicted of any offence, and the allegations remain under investigation. Police have not publicly detailed his current whereabouts or announced any arrest in connection with the latest search.
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