Severed body parts washed up on Bali beach belong to Ukraine man, 28, kidnapped for ransom: Indo police

On Feb. 26, Bali locals discovered body parts, including a severed head, washed up on a beach on the Indonesian island.

Local police confirmed on Mar. 5 that they belonged to a 28-year-old Ukrainian man who was rumoured to have been kidnapped in mid-February while vacationing on the island with his girlfriend.

Before the discovery of the remains, videos circulating on social media reportedly showed the 28-year-old, who is said to be the son of a wealthy Ukrainian businessman, beaten and bruised as he pleaded for a US$10 million (S$12.8 million) ransom to be paid.

Severed head, torso, limbs wash up ashore

According to Jakarta Globe, the remains were first discovered on Feb. 26 near Ketewel Beach in the Gianyar regency of Bali.

A subsequent search led to the discovery of more body parts, including the head, torso, arms and legs, along a nearby river and coastline.

A severed head was also discovered, The Australian reported.

The body parts were in advanced stages of decomposition, which made visual identification impossible, Jakarta Globe wrote.

However, local police were able to identify the deceased through DNA testing, confirming that the remains belonged to Igor Komarov, 28, who was rumoured to have been kidnapped.

Kidnapped son of wealthy Ukrainian

Komarov was reportedly abducted on February 15 while riding on a motorbike through Bali's Jimbaran, news.com.au wrote.

He was vacationing with his girlfriend, influencer Yea Mishalova, who shared a photo of the two of them on the island on Valentine's Day, CBS News reported.

The 28-year-old is reportedly the son of a wealthy, but controversial, Ukrainian, Oleksandr ‘Narik’ Petrovsky.

Petrovsky is known to the media as a businessman, but allegedly has ties to criminal networks, news.com.au reported.

Ransom video allegedly circulated online and on Telegram

Following the rumoured kidnapping, videos began circulating on Telegram and social media showing what appears to be Komarov covered in bruises.

The man could also be seen weeping while allegedly begging his father to pay the ransom his abductors demanded, which was US$10 million (S$12.8 million).

Ukrainian Chargé d'Affaires Yevhenia Shynkarenko in Indonesia told Jakarta Globe that they were aware of the social media posts, but said they could "neither confirm nor deny" the incident.

The Ukrainian embassy in Indonesia has also not received any request for support, Shynkarenko said.

Six foreign nationals wanted

Apart from the identification of the remains, local police also found bloodstains at a villa in Tabanan, Bali, where Komarov was rumoured to have been held captive.

DNA tests of the stains suggested that they belonged to Komarov, Bali police said.

Local authorities have since arrested a suspect, known as C, who rented a vehicle that was believed to have been used in the abduction using a fake passport, Jakarta Globe wrote.

C claimed that he was unaware that the car would be used in a possible crime, and was paid to make the rental.

Six other foreign nationals are wanted for kidnapping and aggravated assault, CBS News reported.

Investigation into the case remains ongoing.

Top image via Yea Mishalova / Instagram, Berita Satu