Actress Makes Peace After Bali Nightclub Assault

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Indonesian-Dutch actress Jennifer Coppen has reached a restorative justice agreement after being hit in the face while trying to defend a tourist during a night out in Kuta. 

On Friday 27th May Coppen and KJ, the man who allegedly hit her during the altercation at Shishi Nightclub, went to North Kuta Police and signed a peace agreement. This agreement nullifies the accusations lodged against KJ and draws the police investigation to a close.

The Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit at North Kuta Police, Iptu Mohammad Amir, confirmed that the pair arrived at the police station of their own free will and chose to deal with the situation amicably.

Reports suggest that Coppen and KJ held a meeting before heading to the police station. It was there that they agreed that restorative justice would be a suitable and symbolic gesture of dropping charges. This bypassed the need for any further involvement with the police.

If two or more people who have been involved in an incident that had required police mediation decide that they will resolve the issue with restorative justice, the police cannot take any further action. 

Police Commissioner Amir said ‘”This case is stopped and the police are implementing restorative justice as mandated by the National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo’. 

The case was opened following an alleged assault to Jennifer Coppen on a night out in early May 2022. Around 3 am on the 11th of May, Coppen and her friends were said to be leaving Shishi Bar on Jalan Petitenget in North Kuta.

Reports from the time suggest that Coppen spotted a young woman who was drunk and being harassed by a group of men. Coppen is said to have come to the aid of the woman, who is thought to be a tourist, when the men began harassing her too. 

As the situation and level of harassment escalated, reports suggest that nightclub security did not intervene. The men allegedly switched from verbally abusing the drunk woman and Coppen, to poking, groping, and slapping them. It is said that Coppen was hit across the face during the incident and made a swift exit from the venue.

In the days that followed Police Commissioner Amir told the press that Jennifer Coppen had lodged an assault charge against KJ. 

It was then confirmed that police were working with Shishi Bar and Nightclub to review CCTV footage from the night to better establish a timeline of events. They also spoke with Shishi’s staff and other eyewitnesses who saw the situation unfold.

Neither KJ nor Coppen have released a public statement regarding their restorative justice agreement. They did both pose for a photo, each holding a copy of the agreement, which was shared by local newspapers. This can be taken as a positive sign that both parties have made peace and are putting the events of the 11th of May behind them. 

Jennifer Coppen is a celebrated young Indonesian actress who has starred in many of Indonesia’s most popular soap operas. She played a leading role in the sinetron Story for Geri, and in the top-ranking film Mecca, I’m Coming. She stars in a romantic drama that will be hitting cinema screens in 2022 called Akad.

This news of resolution comes in the same week that a Balinese mother has filed an assault charge on behalf of her 17-year-old son who claims to have been beaten by a tourist and security staff at a club in Seminyak on the 29th of May. In light of both events nightclubs will be working hard to ensure venues are safe for everyone as they reopen.

Bali’s world-famous nightlife scene was badly hit by the pandemic and while there are still some capacity restrictions in place, there is light at the end of the tunnel for venue owners who want to see their clubs filled with people partying and enjoying a night out without restrictions.