Five men have claimed responsibility for the very public killing of Dewa Gede Artawan, 31, with some saying that they were racked with guilt and unable to sleep.
Artawan was fatally slashed by a group of men on a main road in broad daylight last Friday, eyewitnesses said.
The men turned themselves into Sukawati Police late on Tuesday at about 10:45 pm and have been identified in reports as PM, 32, EA, 30, KJ, 22, SA, 23, and BA, 24.
“That’s right, five people have come forward as the perpetrators with the purpose of turning themselves in,” Gianyar Police Chief Waluya told Tribun Bali on Wednesday.
The men also reportedly submitted two blood-covered blades into evidence that were allegedly used to stab Artawan.
Police said the men confessed because they couldn’t bear the guilt.
“We’re having nightmares. We’re overtaken by guilt. We surrender,” Waluya said, paraphrasing one of the perp’s responses as to why they confessed.
Waluya says that the perps said they were provoked by Artawan when some insults were casted.
Things allegedly escalated when a motorcycle from a group of the mass community organization Laskar Bali was hit by the perps’ car. From there, Waluya said that the men allege the Laskar Bali group started hitting the car, chasing them, and insulting them.
That’s when emotions went haywire and things took an irreversible turn—three men in the car covered their faces and took their blades, slashing Artawan. BA and SA were the ones that allegedly made the fatal slashes.
However, despite this account, police say they are hesitant to accept that the incident was entirely spontaneous and will deepen their investigation to get at the truth.
Upon realizing last Friday that the slashing victim was a member of Laskar Bali, police expressed fear that this is just the latest clash between Laskar and rival gang Baladika. Violence broke out in and around Kerobokan Prison last December when the two gangs clashed, leaving four dead. However, recent reports have not yet identified whether or not the alleged perps have an gang affiliation, so it’s not yet clear if this is related to the rivalry or not.
