After his Instagram post went viral, Jack Ahearn, who won the international men’s category at the inaugural Indonesia International Marathon (IIM) in Bali on June 26, finally received his prize money yesterday afternoon. However, two other winners have yet to receive their reward, their lawyer confirmed today.
As previously reported, the Aussie, who is active on Shuffle and Strides, an organization trying to destigmatize mental health issues, did not receive the IDR150,000,000 (US$10,100) prize money he was promised for two months after taking the podium.
Speaking to Coconuts Bali today, Ahearn said he finally received the total amount as promised in his Indonesian bank account.
“[I received the money at] about 4 or 5pm yesterday,” he said.
While it looks to be case closed for Ahearn, there are allegedly two other winners from Australia who have not yet received their prize money. The pair are Mike ‘Akerz’ Akerman, the first runner-up in the international men’s category, and Henrietta Brouwer (originally from Holland but has an Australian passport), who came third in the international women’s category.
Frank Hutapea, son of superstar lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea, who represents Ahearn, Akerman, and Brouwer, told Coconuts Bali today that the latter two were promised IDR100,000,000 (US$6,700) and IDR50,000,000 (US$3,400), respectively.
“Two of my clients are still not paid,” Frank said, adding that Ahearn was “the most vocal on social media” out of the three.
According to Frank, he received a statement from the Indonesian Sports Council (KONI) forwarding a claim from the event organizers, PT Tata Media Prima/TMP (The Media Palace), that Akerman hasn’t received the money because he does not have a local bank account.
Frank, however, dismissed the notion, adding that it was the organizers’ responsibility to ensure the payment instead of leaving the winners in the dark for two months.
Separately, Hardo Supoyo, a representative from TMP who also co-chairs the IIM, said that all of the prize money will be settled next week.
Coconuts Bali has reached out to the IIM organizers for further comments.
