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Bodhi R.*, 23, from Noosa, Australia, was arrested early Thursday morning following an incident on an island off the coast of Sumatra. He could face up to five years in prison if convicted of assaulting and injuring passersby while under the influence of alcohol.
As local police told Australian daily The Age, the Australian drank vodka before storming out of his room at night without clothes. R. denied having drunk alcohol, but a half-empty bottle was found in his room.
Fischer ends up in hospital after an attack
“He came out of his room naked. A guard tried to stop him, but was hit in the neck and fell,” said the island’s police chief. “He then went out and attacked passersby. He beat almost everyone who was in the street.”
A motorcyclist is believed to be one of the victims. When he drove by, R. apparently attacked him. When the man was already on the ground, the Australian would have thrown the motorcycle at him. The victim is a local fisherman who was subsequently taken to hospital. A wound on the leg had to be sewn up with 50 stitches.
Local residents tried to set fire to the hotel
Angered by the tourist’s behavior and the injuries caused, some passers-by tried to set fire to the hotel themselves, police said. “Fortunately, the police and the village chief managed to calm down the crowd,” said the police chief.
A complaint has already been filed about the incident. Under the Indonesian Penal Code, the attacker could face up to five years in prison for assault and serious bodily harm. It could be even more painful for the young Australian. In the ultra-conservative province of Aceh, unlike the rest of Indonesia, Sharia law applies to public intoxication. There is a risk of up to 40 hits with the stick. However, non-Muslims can choose which law they want to be punished by.
In everyday life, private drinking is usually tolerated by tourists. R. would have told the police that he had come to the island for four days with a male friend to surf. Now he is staying longer in Indonesia for the time being. (bbs)
* Name known
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
