Police in Bali are on the hunt for an online motorcycle taxi driver who sexually assaulted a 33-year-old Chinese tourist on New Year’s Eve.
The woman, known by her initials YA, reported the incident to the police, who are now seriously following up on the case. Although the driver is suspected of being an online motorcycle taxi driver, the ride where the incident took place was booked outside of an app.
33-year-old YA is reported to have been visiting Bali with six friends for the New Year’s Eve holidays. They were staying at a private rental villa in Ungasan, close to Uluwatu.
The group of friends is reported to have celebrated the New Year at Utilis Warung at Nyang Nyang Beach in Uluwatu. The group set to leave the event at 1.20 pm and each hailed different rides back to the villa.
Four of the friends are reported to have got into one car and been taken back to the villa. While YA and two others stayed back at the venue, waiting for a ride.
Speaking to reporters the Head of Public Relations of the Bali Police, Senior Commissioner Pol. Jansen Avitus Panjaitan explained, “The victim walked ahead while trying to find a vehicle or transportation to return to her place of stay.”
He added, “The Jatanras Unit team is still pursuing the perpetrator, who is suspected of being an online motorcycle taxi driver.”
Panjaitan explained that YA had seen a motorcycle taxi driver dropping off two tourists just further up the road. He was wearing a green jacket and helmet.
The driver is reported to have turned around and approached YA, offering her a ride. YA had told reporters that since she had seen him drop off two passengers safely before and that he approached her in a friendly manner, he was safe.
Though she told him the address, he did not use a Maps application on his phone. As the pair started driving, Pol. Panjaitan reported that YA realized they were not going in the right direction. YA then tried to contact her friends to say that she was being taken somewhere different.
The driver is reported to have seen her pull out her phone, pull over the motorcycle, throw her phone away from her, and violently sexually assault her.
Pol. Panjaitan explained, “Based on the victim’s report and statement, the Jatanras Unit team pursued the perpetrator, who is suspected of being an online motorcycle taxi driver.”
He added, “As a result of the incident, the victim suffered several abrasions around the neck and a hoarse voice due to being strangled by the perpetrator, abrasions on both hands, the back and both legs of the reporter as well as pain in [the groin]. This incident has really tarnished the image of Bali tourism, and hopefully, the perpetrators can be revealed soon.”
While shocking circumstances like the attack on YA are rare, there are a few steps that tourists can take to make the most of security features in place on online taxi apps to protect them while they travel.
Booking motorcycle taxis through apps like Grab and GoJek and completing the booking and journey through the app are the safest ways to travel, especially at night, and as a solo traveler, unless you book through a driver who you know and trust.
There are a series of additional safety features that can be unlocked on both apps, including sharing your ride details with a loved one.
Adding emergency contacts is also advisable. It is also possible to book rides in advance, which is ideal for nights out when you might be at venues where the signal is poor or your phone may have limited battery by the end of the night.
Bali local taxi drivers have been protesting this week, calling for better controls over the taxi industry, including improving safety standards and driver registration requirements, as well as standardizing the cost of trips in the province.
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