Remember our story last month about a local man who caused panic at an intersection in Kerobokan after he brandished a knife and stabbed a motorist in rage? Well, it appears that he caused more public unrest not long after being released from a mental institution.
Clips of the big-framed, 23-year-old man, identified by his initials PTW (authorities previously identified him as PKW), caught the attention of local netizens today.
In the first video, reportedly taken in Karangasem on Saturday, PTW was shown walking down the street in a black shirt and navy shorts with a flute in his hand. Another video was reportedly uploaded on Sunday showing PTW smiling from ear to ear, this time wearing a cowboy hat.
On their own, perhaps there’s nothing immediately worrying in the two clips. However, it should be noted that PTW was recently released from the Bangli Mental Health Hospital after a violent episode on Sept. 1.
On that day, he punched a random motorcyclist and later stabbed him on the back with a knife after he was involved in a motorcycle collision with another driver. Incidentally, the crash that day occurred because PTW ran the red light with one hand holding his cell phone.
The stabbing victim was immediately rushed to a hospital, while PTW was arrested after he randomly lied down on a paddy field nearby.
PTW was apprehended again yesterday by Denpasar’s Satpol PP (Public Order Agency), after he was reportedly involved in another squabble with a citizen who saw him vandalizing a statue on a shrine.
“He was just released from the Bangli institution two days prior. [This time] he relapsed and caused panic amongst street vendors and locals,” Denpasar Satpol PP official Nyoman Sudarsana said.
Sudarsana added that the authorities managed to persuade PTW to go home before contacting medical staff from the nearest community health center to sedate him. The official said that PTW may have to be readmitted to the mental institution if he relapses again.
