Police arrest Labuan Bajo travel operator over alleged tourist fraud

Ketang — Police arrested travel-agent owner Kristoforus Aman, also known as Itok Aman, in Ketang on 19 October 2026 over alleged fraud complaints from foreign tourists, according to police and local media reports.

Why it matters: The case involves alleged losses reported by Italian and Chinese visitors who booked travel services connected with Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park.

The joint operation involved investigators from the East Manggarai and West Manggarai police forces. Officers arrested Aman at a relative’s house and took him to Borong before he was transferred to Labuan Bajo on 20 October, according to the reports.

Six Italian tourists reported Aman to West Manggarai police on 12 August, alleging that they had paid Rp125 million to his Labuan Bajo Top agency for a six-day sea-tour package in Komodo National Park. The tourists reportedly arrived in Labuan Bajo three days later and could no longer contact him.

Police records cited by local media put the loss recorded in that complaint at Rp79.8 million, rather than the Rp125 million total described by the tourists. The reported case involved a package that was not delivered.

Three Chinese tourists later filed a separate complaint, alleging combined losses of Rp7.65 million over another liveaboard package. The reports did not establish that the Chinese and Italian complaints concerned the same transaction.

West Manggarai investigators subsequently designated Aman a suspect in the case involving the three Italian tourists. He faces a possible prison sentence of up to four years under the fraud provision cited by police, while the investigation continues.

What happened next

Aman was taken to West Manggarai Police for further legal proceedings after his arrest. The case concerns allegations; a court has not been reported to have issued a final judgment.

Sources

• Detik Bali
• Floresa.co
• Digtara
• Info Labuan Bajo