Police Arrest Labuan Bajo Travel-Agent Owner Over Alleged Tourist Fraud

Labuan Bajo — Police arrested Kristoforus Aman, also known as Itok Aman, the 32-year-old owner of the Labuan Bajo Top travel agency, in Desa Ketang, Kecamatan Kota Komba Utara, Manggarai Timur, on Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. He is suspected of repeatedly defrauding tourists from several countries in Labuan Bajo, Manggarai Barat, and was handed over to Polres Manggarai Barat for further legal proceedings.

The arrest followed reports from foreign tourists alleging losses linked to travel packages. Police said Aman was arrested by the Resmob team of Satreskrim Polres Manggarai Timur after information about his whereabouts was received. The report described him as having been sought after earlier complaints to Polres Manggarai Barat.

Why the arrest matters to Labuan Bajo visitors

The case concerns a travel agency serving visitors to one of Indonesia’s best-known tourism destinations. For foreign residents and visitors, the allegations show how a dispute over a booked travel package can become a police matter when investigators suspect repeated fraud. The reports do not establish a final court finding; they describe Aman as a person suspected of fraud.

The reports said three Italian tourists reported Aman to Polres Manggarai Barat on Aug. 12, 2026, over alleged fraud involving a travel package valued at Rp 79.8 million (about US$4,800). A separate report said three Chinese tourists later reported alleged losses of Rp 7,650,000 (about US$460). The reports also referred to an earlier case involving Malaysian and Singaporean tourists, for which Aman had previously been detained and later released after a restorative-justice settlement.

After the Oct. 19 arrest, Aman was to be transferred to Polres Manggarai Barat, where the legal process would continue. The published reports did not state a court judgment or final resolution of the newer allegations.

Sources

• detikBali — Indonesian regional news report
• infolabuanbajo.id
• floresa.co