Bali’s Regional Police Chief, Inspector General Daniel Adityajaya, has announced the opening of a case regarding the fight between guests and security staff at Finns Beach Club. He emphasized that his department is conducting an objective investigation into claims from both sides.
According to his statement, 12 security guards and 5 Australian nationals were involved in the altercation. Police have identified nine suspects, including eight Balinese security guards and one Australian citizen.
The former security staff are charged under Article 170 of the Criminal Code for group assault, while Australian citizen Muhamed Rifai faces charges under Article 351, Paragraph 1, for individual assault.
The key difference between these articles lies in the nature of the attack: Article 170 covers group assaults, while Article 351 applies to single-person attacks. If convicted, the security guards could face up to 5 years in prison, while the Australian national faces a sentence of 2 years and 8 months.
Adityajaya stated that, as of now, neither party has requested reconciliation from the Bali or Badung police. He also noted the increasing number of fights in tourist areas and confirmed that patrols will be strengthened to prevent such incidents in the future.
The brawl at the nightclub began when Australian citizen John Abid was removed from Finns Beach Club after security reprimanded him for a conflict with a Singaporean woman. The foreign guests refused to comply with security’s decision to eject them and allegedly attacked a security guard. The other security staff retaliated, leading to a full-scale fight.
Both parties have filed complaints against each other, resulting in an open case with an uncertain outcome. Who, if anyone, will serve time in prison remains to be seen.
While security personnel are meant to ensure safety and order, there have been past incidents of excessive force. A notorious case occurred several years ago at La Favela in Seminyak, where a visitor was severely beaten by security guards and lost an eye.
Sources: antara, patrolipost
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