Russians in Military Gear Assault Wrong Man in Jimbaran, Face Trial in Denpasar Court
Allegedly Tried to Extort Fellow Foreigner in Rp 1.5 Billion “Investment Dispute”
DENPASAR, NusaBali.com – Two Russian nationals, Shkutov Ilia (32) and Vitchenko Iurii (30), went on trial at the Denpasar District Court on Tuesday (Nov 4) for allegedly committing violence and attempted extortion against a fellow expatriate in Jimbaran, Badung.
The case has drawn attention among Bali’s expat community for its bizarre “movie-like” details: the two foreigners dressed in tactical, military-style outfits and stormed a house at night — only to find out later that they had attacked the wrong person.
Prosecutors Ni Luh Wayan Adhi Antari and Ida Kade Widiatmika from the Bali High Prosecutor’s Office said the assault took place on July 9, 2025, around 11:30 p.m. at Sakura I Housing Complex, Jimbaran.
The incident began with a WhatsApp chat between a man named George Golota (now listed as a fugitive) and a witness, Ezmail. Golota claimed he wanted to “collect” money from another Russian, Rustem Syrtlanov, who allegedly scammed a Russian woman named Elena in a property investment worth Rp 1.5 billion (about US$90,000). Around Rp 820 million was said to remain unpaid.
Golota then instructed Ilia and Iurii to “handle” the matter by intimidating Rustem. After tracing the alleged target’s address in Jimbaran, the two decided to confront him that night.
Around 9 p.m., Iurii arrived first on a black Yamaha XMax motorcycle with no license plate, wearing a skull-patterned face mask and tactical outfit. He entered the unlocked house, using his phone flashlight to search for proof of Rustem’s presence. He found a notebook and an ATM card under Rustem’s name.
Shortly after, Ilia arrived on a gray Yamaha NMax, dressed in similar gear. They waited inside the house, expecting Rustem to return. Instead, about an hour later, another Russian man, Roman Smeliov, who was renting the house, came home.
Startled to see two strangers in military gear inside his house, Roman fought back. A scuffle broke out — Roman was punched, pinned to the floor, and even duct-taped across the face by Ilia, while Iurii held him down by the neck.
“Who are you?” Ilia shouted, before realizing their mistake when Roman, bleeding from the nose, screamed, “You’ve got the wrong person!”
The two assailants immediately stopped and, oddly enough, tried to clean the victim’s wounds before fleeing. They dumped their clothes, gloves, and masks in a garbage bin near Jimbaran.
Roman later reported the assault to Bali Police Headquarters (Polda Bali). A medical report from Bhayangkara Hospital Denpasar confirmed bruises and scratches on his face from blunt force.
Prosecutors stated that both Ilia, who lives at Antara House, Kerobokan, and Iurii, who resides at The Umalas Signature, Kerobokan, work as freelancers. They are accused of attempting to extort money through violence but failed due to mistaken identity.
They are charged under Article 368(1) in conjunction with Article 53(1) and Article 55(1) of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) on attempted extortion with violence, carrying a maximum penalty of nine years in prison.
Alternatively, they face Article 170(1) on group assault or Article 351(1) on simple assault.
The trial will continue next week with witness examinations. Both defendants have chosen not to file objections to the prosecutors’ indictment. *tr
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