A 33-year-old Russian national identified as CA has been detained by the Bali Police on Friday after a clip of him assaulting an Uluwatu resident, I Gede Bakta Suarsana, went viral prior to the arrest.
Reports say that the viral clip, which was uploaded on several community Instagram accounts, actually occurred on June 27. The incident took place on Jalan Raya Uluwatu 9A in South Kuta, Badung,
CA, who stayed in Ungasan, reportedly had been under police investigation since the initial report was filed on June 27. The case took a significant turn when the video of the altercation went viral on various social media platforms.
“The perpetrator has been apprehended and named as a suspect. The perpetrator is a Russian national temporarily residing in the Ungasan area,” South Kuta Police Chief Nyoman Karang Adiputra told the media over the weekend.
The dispute reportedly stemmed from a parking issue. At the time, Suarsana’s girlfriend went to visit the victim at his place of residence only to find that access was blocked by a car belonging to CA’s female companion.
When Suarsana attempted to address the situation by knocking on the car window, CA, who was driving the car, allegedly misunderstood the victim’s intention. This led to an altercation, which escalated into a physical confrontation involving local residents and CA. CA’s female companion could be heard trying to calm down her friend.
The investigation revealed that CA initiated the assault, choking Suarsana and delivering multiple blows.
CA who has been staying in Bali since January 2023, is currently in police custody. Under Indonesian law, CA could face a sentence of two years and eight months in prison if convicted of assault.
