A 23-year-old Australian man has been arrested in Indonesia`s Aceh province, after running naked through the streets, attacking people in a violent rampage. One local man was seriously injured as a result of the incident.
Queensland man, Bodhi Mani Risby-Jones, is currently in police custody on the island of Simeulue, Sumatra, where he was on a surfing holiday.
Authorities allege Mr Risby-Jones ran drunk and naked from his hotel room, hitting out at everyone in his path. It is also alleged that he knocked a local man off his motorbike before pushing the bike on top of him.
The victim, local fisherman, Edi Ron, is believed to have suffered a broken and dislocated ankle, cracked heel bone and torn muscles from the attack and has required 50 stitches. He also needed to be moved from the small island to a larger hospital on the mainland to undergo surgery.
On arrival at the hospital in Banda Aceh, the victims wife, Edi Saljuna, was told by doctors the ankle wound was infected and had developed an abscess. The family were also told it could take Mr Ron at least three months to recover.
It is understood that Mr Risby-Jones has apologised for his actions, telling police that he “felt possessed” at the time of the rampage and that his behaviour was completely out of character.
He also denied being naked at the time of the incident, claiming he had been wearing underwear.
Although Mr Risby-Jones and his family have already made several payments to Mr Ron and his family to cover costs, including medical expenses and the cost for family members to accompany Mr Ron and care for his children, the family are demanding more than $AUD 60,000 in compensation to cover the cost of the victims suffering, plus longer term expenses, including the cost of Mr Ron setting up a new business to provide for his family in the event that he is unable to return to work as a fisherman.
Mr Ron’s brother-in-law, Poni Harpo, said, “The victim was healthy until the perpetrator hurt him. The perpetrator needs to provide compensation for the pain and injury the victim has suffered. His wife has had to leave five children at home now to take care of him in hospital.”
Mr Risby-Jones’ family are hoping to travel to Simeulue island shortly to negotiate a settlement with the fisherman and his family. However, his father is understood to have health issues which may delay or even prevent the visit. This may yet prove to be the least of their worries.
Local police are preparing a file for prosecutors who will decide whether or not Mr Risby-Jones should face criminal charges for the attack. If convicted, he could face up to five years jail.
Risby-Jones also faces the prospect of receiving 40 lashes of the cane under Aceh`s strict Sharia law, for violating a ban on alcohol.
Local authorities say police found a bottle of vodka in Risby-Jones hotel room, though the 23-year-old insists he only drunk one “tiny” shot.
Risby-Jones has now been held in custody for over a week. Under Indonesian law, he may be held for up to 20 days before any charges are laid.
Aceh province, in Sumatra`s north, is also the most conservative province in Indonesia and the only part of the country that practices Sharia law.
Source – ABC News Australia