Six Italian tourists report Labuan Bajo travel agent over failed Komodo boat trip

Labuan Bajo — Six Italian visitors have reported travel agent Kristoforus Aman, also known as Itok Aman, to West Manggarai Police over an unpaid Komodo-area boat trip, after paying for a marine tour package worth about Rp125 million through his agency Labuan Bajo Top.

According to Floresa.co, the group arrived in Labuan Bajo on 9 August 2026 and had arranged a multi-day sea tour around Komodo National Park through Labuan Bajo Top, owned by Aman. The package price agreed with the tourists was around Rp125 million for a six-day trip, but the agent did not fully settle payment with the chosen vessel operator, Sabbar Cruise.

Floresa.co reports that Aman paid only a Rp20 million down payment to Sabbar Cruise, which the operator used for food, drinks, towels, bed linen and other trip preparations. The remaining balance for the charter, agreed at about Rp79 million for four days and three nights, was not paid. As a result, the planned departure with Sabbar Cruise did not go ahead.

Media Indonesia and other outlets say the Italian tourists then hired another vessel to continue their holiday in Komodo waters. After completing that replacement trip on Wednesday evening, 12 August 2026, they went to West Manggarai Police headquarters to file a complaint against Aman over the failed original booking.

Coverage from Detik and RRI indicates differing figures for the losses involved.

• Floresa.co and Media Indonesia report the total package price to the tourists at about Rp125 million.
• Police figures cited by Detik and RRI put the financial loss recorded in the report at around Rp79.8 million, tied to payments transferred in instalments by a subgroup of three Italian tourists identified by their initials.
• Media Indonesia cites Sabbar Cruise’s preparatory spending at roughly Rp27 million for supplies and trip readiness, separate from the tourists’ payments to the travel agent.

Police and media accounts agree that at least Rp20 million was paid by Labuan Bajo Top to Sabbar Cruise as a down payment and that the remainder of the agreed charter fee was not settled. The Italian group’s main transaction, however, was with the travel agency rather than directly with the vessel operator.

Police say agent is still a reported person

Floresa.co quotes West Manggarai Police Criminal Investigation Unit chief AKP Lufthi Darmawan as saying on 7 September 2026 that investigators were coordinating with police in other regions to establish Aman’s whereabouts and advance the inquiry. Lufthi said Aman had not been placed on the wanted-person list because he remained a reported person rather than a named suspect in the Italian tourists’ case.

Earlier in August, Detik reported that the West Manggarai police chief had ordered officers to apprehend Aman in connection with the complaint, with investigators stating that three Italian tourists were formally listed as complainants and that a loss of Rp79.8 million was recorded in the police report.

Floresa.co notes that police have not yet succeeded in locating Aman for questioning in the Italian case. Media Indonesia similarly reports that officers are still attempting to secure his accountability for the losses alleged by the foreign visitors.

Previous fraud case involving Malaysian and Singaporean tourists

The Italian tourists’ complaint follows an earlier case involving the same travel agent.

Floresa.co reports that in May 2026 Aman was named a suspect over alleged fraud and embezzlement involving Malaysian and Singaporean tourists, in a premium tour package worth Rp85.2 million that included a charter of the vessel MY MOON and Komodo National Park entry fees. Detik adds that police said Aman misused the funds for online gambling and personal expenses.

Floresa.co states that Aman was detained for 48 days in that case and later released after returning the full Rp85.2 million, signing a settlement agreement and the complainant formally withdrawing the police report under a restorative justice mechanism.

Police and tourism advocates quoted by Floresa.co and Media Indonesia say repeated travel-agent disputes risk undermining confidence in Labuan Bajo as an international destination, and have urged clearer communication from law enforcement about case progress and traveller protection.

Sources

• Floresa.co
• Media Indonesia
• RRI
• Detikcom
• Sekolapedia