BALI, RAKYAT NEWS— In an intricate web of deceit that spans continents, Prima Putri Ratnasari, also known as Putry Thornhill, went from a social media influencer to an alleged international fraudster.

Her story reads like a crime novel, weaving together tales of designer bags, lavish villa investments, and broken dreams. With her recent sentencing in New South Wales, Australia, many victims are finally getting some closure, but the damage left behind remains.

Prima Putri Ratnasari first surfaced on the radar of Australian authorities four years ago, when complaints about her began circulating online. In Indonesian and Australian communities, victims created Facebook groups to warn others about a woman who allegedly sold counterfeit luxury goods, specifically designer handbags. What started as scattered complaints soon grew into a full-blown investigation as authorities pieced together the stories of individuals who had fallen prey to her schemes

Living in New South Wales at the time, Putry initially evaded arrest by fleeing back to Indonesia, leaving a trail of victims who were told they had little recourse. Australian authorities admitted that without her return to the country, prosecuting her would be nearly impossible. However, that did not stop those affected from continuing to seek justice, leading to her name being flagged at airports and eventually to her capture upon her re-entry into Australia

Upon her arrest, it was revealed that her methods had evolved. No longer content with merely selling counterfeit bags, Putry had upped the ante by creating a fraudulent villa investment scheme in Bali. Promising returns that seemed too good to be true, she lured victims into investing thousands of dollars.

Alana Cayless, one of the victims, shared her experience of losing AUD 40,000 in what she thought was a dream villa. Instead, it turned out to be a non-existent property, part of a grander scam

Authorities in both Indonesia and Australia have been grappling with the legal complexities of her case. In Australia, she faced five charges of dishonestly obtaining financial gain, all linked to her fraudulent activities.

Although her crimes warranted serious legal attention, the courts opted for an 18-month Community Correction Order (CCO), a penalty that allows her to serve her sentence within the community under strict supervision, rather than behind bars

The decision to grant her a CCO, rather than imprison her, sparked a heated debate in the local community. Some saw it as lenient, considering the amount of money she had swindled from her victims. Others pointed out that the CCO allowed for continued monitoring, ensuring that she could no longer operate her fraudulent schemes without scrutiny. However, the controversy was far from over. Victims in Bali were pushing for her to be extradited to Indonesia to face additional charges related to the villa scam

The depth of Prima Putri Ratnasari’s schemes has left many victims emotionally and financially scarred. For some, like Alana Cayless, it wasn’t just about the money.

“She shattered our trust, and for that, no amount of compensation can ever truly fix what she did,” Alana said in an interview.

Her words echo the sentiments of many others who fell for Putry’s charismatic charm and elaborate promises

In Bali, where the villa scam unfolded, the repercussions are still being felt. Local authorities have begun investigating, hoping to uncover the full extent of her operations on the island. Rumors abound that other individuals may have been involved in the scam, though no further arrests have been made. The luxury villa industry in Bali, already plagued by issues of legitimacy, has suffered additional reputational damage as a result

Prima Putri Ratnasari’s story is also a cautionary tale about the dark side of social media. Like many modern fraudsters, she used platforms like Instagram to create a curated image of success and trustworthiness. Pictures of luxury goods and exotic destinations gave her the appearance of someone who knew how to live the high life, and she leveraged that image to lure her victims in

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time a social media influencer has been caught up in a legal scandal. Influencers across the globe have faced scrutiny over false advertising, but rarely does it escalate to this level of criminality. In Putry’s case, her entire online persona was a carefully crafted façade, masking her illicit activities

Now, with her sentence in Australia, the question remains: what will happen next? Australian immigration laws allow for the deportation of individuals who fail character tests, and many of her victims are calling for her to be sent back to Indonesia. There, she could face additional charges related to the villa scam, potentially leading to a much harsher punishment

While the Australian Department of Home Affairs has yet to make a public statement on the case, experts believe that her deportation is likely. The department’s guidelines prioritize community safety, and individuals with significant criminal records are often sent back to their home countries.

For now, Prima Putri Ratnasari walks free under the conditions of her CCO, but her story is far from over. As investigations continue both in Australia and Indonesia, she remains a symbol of the perils of unchecked influence and the growing need for international cooperation in tackling fraud that crosses borders. (Uki Ruknuddin)