Bali Man Faces Prison Time For Stealing Elderly Woman’s Money In Bali

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A 35-year-old many from Pinggan Village in Kintamani has been arrested and charged with theft. Nyoman Wijana is reported to have stolen IDR 10 million from the home of a 92-year-old woman on Saturday 7th May. 

In a statement given to the police 92-year-old, Wayan Santi said that her suspicions were aroused when she returned home to find that the pillows on her bed had been disturbed. Under the pillows is where she stashed the key to the cupboard where she stored her cash savings. Many people in Bali, especially the elderly and those living more rurally, do not have bank accounts. It is not uncommon for people in small rural villages to keep their life savings in cash hidden in their homes. 

In her statement, Santi explained how the stash of cash, previously amounting to IDR 32 million was missing IDR 10 million. Her house was left unlocked while she was out, meaning Wijana could simply walk in without attracting any attention from neighbors. When she realized what had happened called the police who launched an investigation. It seems that Mr. Wijana did not cover his tracks very well as the police were quickly able to track him down and on Tuesday arrested him at his home in Pinggan Village in Kintamani, northwest Bali. Pinggan Village is best known for Sukawana and Pinggan Sunrise Spots, both of which offer breathtaking views of Mount Batur in the early hours. 

Wijana admitted to stealing the money upon his arrest and lead the police to where he had buried IDR 4 million in cash in the gardens of his chili farm. It is believed that he gambled IDR 6 million of the cash away at some point on Sunday evening or Monday. 

He also admitted to other burglaries. He told police how he had stolen IDR 4 million from Ni Nyoman Santi, who also lives in Pinggan Village, an additional IDR 6 million from a resident named Nag Suk, and IDR 350,000 from the Belelos household in the village too.

Nyoman Wijana is currently being held at Kintamani Police Station. If convicted guilty he faces a maximum penalty of 5-years in prison. 

This news comes in the same week that a British man has been convicted of theft and aggravated assault. following a violent robbery. The British cryptocurrency trader Gregory Lee Simpson, 36, is awaiting sentencing following a guilty verdict in court on 11th May 2022. It is likely he will be served with a maximum sentence of 12-years in prison for his actions. 

Simpson, accompanied by Nicola Di Santo, set off fifty fireworks outside a villa in Seminyak in the early hours of 28th December 2021. After waking and disorientating the Italian homeowner and his wife, Simpson and Di Santo violently assaulted the couple, gagging them and trying them up.

In witness accounts, it was shared how the victims were beaten until they vomited blood before giving up the codes to the safe. Simpson is said to have gotten away with six cellphones, four motorbike registration papers, six-car registration papers, a high-end camera, four laptops, IDR 200 million in cash, EUR €10,000 cash, $3,000 of Saudi Riyal in cash, and tech with access to a large number of bitcoins.

Simpson is currently held by Denpasar police awaiting sentencing. Di Santo is also being held awaiting trial.  

Though Wijana stole comparatively little when looking at the case of Simpson and Di Santo, and there was no violence involved in his crime it may little difference. The Indonesian courts do not view theft lightly and he could be sent away for up to 5-years.

The most famous prison in Bali is Kerobokan, also referred to as KBB. The notorious prison is reserved for Bali’s most dangerous criminals with many of the inmates convicted of drug-related offenses. The prison system in Indonesia is under regular scrutiny from Human Rights Watch due to extensive overcrowding and reports of significant human rights violations.