Police confirm identity of tourist 'tortured, drugged and decapitated' after severed head and body parts wash up at Bali holiday hotspot

Bali, Indonesia

A severed head and body parts washed up at a popular holiday hotspot on the Indonesian island

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GETTY

Dan McDonald

By Dan McDonald


Published: 09/03/2026

- 01:59

Alarming videos emerged of the badly-injured tourist pleading for a ransom to be paid shortly before his death

WARNING: This article contains graphic photos

Indonesian authorities have confirmed the identity of a tourist who was tortured, drugged and decapitated on the island of Bali after a severed head and body parts washed up.

DNA analysis revealed the dismembered remains recovered belong to Igor Komarov, a 28-year-old Ukrainian national who was snatched from the Indonesian island last month.


The man was kidnapped on February 15 in Jimbaran, a coastal area frequented by tourists from Russia and Ukraine.

His captors executed the kidnapping with precision, using multiple vehicles in what investigators have described as a military-style assault.

Following his abduction, Mr Komarov was transported to an upmarket property on Bali's mid-western coastline.

There, he endured torture, was force-fed drugs, and suffered severe physical harm during his ordeal.

His kidnappers compelled him to record a video demanding $10million (£7.5million) from his father, who Ukrainian reports identify as a business tycoon with alleged connections to organised crime in the country.

Physical evidence was seen on the recovered body parts, including chest tattoos and bruising around both eyes.

Jimbaran, Bali

The man was kidnapped in Jimbaran, a coastal area frequented by Russians and Ukrainian tourists (file photo)

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GETTY

However, the severe deterioration of the remains made it impossible to confirm his identity through visuals alone.

Bone samples were dispatched to Indonesia's national forensic facility in Jakarta for examination.

"DNA profile from the body parts we submitted was compared with reference samples from the victim's parents. The results showed a match," said Senior Commissioner Ariasandy, the Bali regional police spokesman.

Dr Nola Margaret Gunawan, the forensic pathologist conducting the post-mortem examination at Ngurah General Hospital in Bali, indicated the DNA match carried a 99.9 per cent probability of accuracy.

Igor Komarov

Igor Komarov was seen appearing badly bruised in a 'hostage' video after he vanished

"I double checked with the forensic laboratory in Jakarta because I was surprised to see the news," Dr Gunawan explained.

The results arrived far sooner than anticipated, as she had previously estimated a month-long wait.

"They said it was [fast tracked] due to the huge attention to the case, so the process was expedited. Was there a political motive? I can't answer that.

"From my point of view as a pathologist, there isn't anything special about this case."

Ngurah General Hospital in Bali

A post-mortem examination of the remains was carried out at the Ngurah General Hospital in Bali (pictured)

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GOOGLE

Authorities in Bali have named seven individuals as suspects in the gruesome murder.

One suspect, a foreign citizen known only by the initials CH, was apprehended on Lombok, the neighbouring island to Bali.

This individual had hired one of the vehicles deployed during the abduction and had entered Indonesia using fraudulent travel documents.

CH allegedly told investigators that he was oblivious to the criminal purpose of the vehicle, claiming he had merely been paid $500 (£375) to arrange the rental.

Bali Police

Authorities in Bali have named seven individuals as suspects in the gruesome murder

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GETTY

Of the remaining six suspects, four are believed to have fled the country.

The other two are thought to remain concealed somewhere in Bali or elsewhere within Indonesia.

All six fugitives now appear on Indonesia's wanted list and have been made subject to an Interpol Red Notice, which alerts law enforcement worldwide to assist in their capture.

An insider familiar with the investigation revealed that an eighth suspect, an Indonesian citizen, has been detained for providing CH with the counterfeit passport.

"You should dig deeper to find something bigger behind the case. For me, this case is the result of weak and poor border control in Indonesia," the source told News.com.au.

Mr Komarov had been holidaying in Bali alongside his girlfriend, Yea Mishalova, an Instagram personality with approximately 200,000 followers.

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