Bali Police have confirmed the arrest of twelve security guards employed by Finns Beach Club in connection with a brawl with foreign tourists on Tuesday, 11th February.
Video footage of the violent altercation went viral online, and one Australian man has also been arrested in connection with the incident.
The Head of Public Relations of the Bali Police, Senior Commissioner Ariasandy, confirmed the latest details of the ongoing case to the media on Wednesday 19th February.
Bali Police’s General Criminal Investigation Directorate arrested a 28-year-old Australian man, known by his initials MR on Monday 17th February.
Twelve security personnel from Finns Beach Club in Canggu, including the Head of Security, 53-year-old INM, have now been arrested by Bali Police.
Commissioner Ariasandy told reporters, “The report handled by the Bali Police Criminal Investigation Directorate has named MR as a suspect and detained him. On the other hand, the report of this group of foreigners at the Badung Police has examined dozens of witnesses and after a case conference, 12 security guards have been named as suspects.”
He added, “They were named as suspects, meaning the evidence is clear. There are witnesses and CCTV camera recordings. Of course, investigators are not only working on the viral video. The circulating video is a series of it. The viral video is the final part, and the hit happens outside. The beginning of the incident was actually inside.”
One of the key reasons why the twelve security guards were arrested is after the foreigners on the other side of the altercation created a police report and because the fight took place outside the venue rather than inside the jurisdiction of the security guard’s workplace.
Commissioner Ariasandy explained, “They were seen on CCTV and admitted to being involved in the fight. So, from the results of the CCTV footage investigation at Finns Beach Club Bali and the security statements, there was a procedural error in handling the guests.”
He confirmed “They made a procedural error. Because at the TKP (fight location) it was outside their domain as security.” Commissioner Ariasandy noted that the foreigners had apologized after being removed from the venue, but claimed that they were then abused further by the security officers.
Commissioner Ariasandy told reporters, “When the foreigner was secured, they still beat him. Tied up, still kicked and beaten. That’s what triggered the foreigner or his friend to get angry.”
The guards have been charged with Article 170 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code and now face a maximum penalty of 5 years and 6 months in prison.
Commissioner Ariasandy reiterated that the investigation is ongoing and that further updates will be issued in due course.
He shared “These are two different reports. Both reports are still running according to the procedures and evidence available. There is an Australian citizen who has been named a suspect and detained.”
He added, “Then the police report reported in Badung by a Foreign Citizen regarding the assault has been processed, and 12 security personnel were named as suspects.”
The incident has triggered a fresh round of dialogue in Bali around the impact of mass tourism, cultural respect, security, and law enforcement.
The viral video even caught the attention of the Indonesian Deputy Minister for Tourism, Ni Luh Puspa, who spoke to reporters about her commitment to helping develop stricter law enforcement across Bali’s top resorts.
The Minister shared “This has also become a concern for the minister, we at the center are also very worried about this, we want to immediately find a solution together with the center and the regions.”
She concluded, “This [kind of behavior] has entered the criminal realm, of course, we support the police including the local government, of course, the steps of law enforcement need to be strengthened again.”
Remove All Ads & Unlock All Articles… Sign up for The Bali Sun Premium
Plan Your Bali Holiday:
Book The Best English Speaking Drivers For Airport Transfers & Tours
Choose From Thousands of Bali Hotels, Resorts, and Hostels with Free Cancellation On Most Properties
Book Cheap Flights To Bali
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance That Covers Medical Expenses In Bali
For the latest Bali News & Debate Join our Facebook Community
SUBSCRIBE TO NEW POSTS
Enter your email address to subscribe to The Bali Sun’s latest breaking news, straight to your inbox.
Discover more from The Bali Sun
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
James
Friday 21st of February 2025
FFS. We all know security is never security, but local gangsters so this is what you can expect. And slapping drunk and shirtless aggresive tourists in clubs around is fine by all of us. European people like to mention Spain for this. It's a good thing. Behave or get your ass kicked. But what really pisses me of is that the only reason those 12 guys are taken into custody is because there is also a fight going on between the government and Finns.
Remember the truck driver who beheaded a Bule last year in Denpasar? It was "not his fault". The Bule was standing still on his bike.. But sure. Bule fault. So the truck driver got away THE SAME DAY, he did not even go to the police station. Remember the local taxi driver assaulting a tourist in Seminyak with a knife? Never spend a single day in jail. Remember when that surfer slapped a girl around the Bukit? Payed of local Banjar and never got caught. Remember the tourist a couple of months ago who went straight from Ngurah Rai to the North? His driver parked ON the road and an overtired truck driver crushed him. He as well never spend a day in jail. Remember the restoran owner in Umalas who was hit and died on the road, and got his pockets picked?! Never any follow up. Remember the gang war last year, when local clans hunted eachother down with machetes?! All those videos went viral, but not a single word from police. And the list goes on...
But now 12 security guys from Finns are in custody because they slapped some aggressive tourist around. And tomorrow, when once again a truly innocent tourist is being overrun by an overtired truck driver watching Tiktok, or yet again a house is robbed or expats are dealing with crazy people with knifes? What will happen then?
Peter
Friday 21st of February 2025
Bali underbelly exposed,thugs as security guards,the media call robbery and personal attacks petty crime ,not so petty if you are the victim just a tourist who saved up enough for a holiday and then have your valuables ripped from your neck or bashed and phone stolen very unsavoury, karma is coming bali
M
Thursday 20th of February 2025
LINK I need popcorn for episode 3...
Exp
Thursday 20th of February 2025
Oh no. The initial reports going around the world was that five "gangster" Australians beat up the defenseless Balinese security at Finns for no reason.
And now it turns out that Finns security appears having instigated the violence and beatings with the Australians having to defend themselves. Never trust videos or stories posted by the locals to sell their foreigner "bad" narrative.
Those informed knows that the security in the tourist zones are most likely from ormas (basically gangs) with more than 10,000 members in Bali alone. These ormas (like Laskar Bali) were involved in violent gang wars that peaked around 2015 with killings of 3 Baladika members in public on Jl. Teuku Umar. Now they offer security providing bone crushing service for tourists.
Next the lone Australian arrested and his friends will be under immense pressure to agree to "restorative" justice and to pay "donation for damage done" so the security under arrest can get off with a slap on their wrist. That way the arrested Australian can get away with a token jail sentence as well. Lets see.
Sven
Friday 21st of February 2025
@Exp, bingo. I would be very surprised if any punishment happens to these uncivilized gangsters. The entire island is corruption on top of corruption.
Shorty
Friday 21st of February 2025
@Exp,
Reading elsewhere the guards have been charged as they were involved in a fracas outside the premises where they can't legally operate. Not because they instigated it.
If it can be shown they were defending themselves, they've no problems.
Restorative justice? Normal and sensible.
Why do you automatically blame security?
The start was the main perp being an arsehole in the club and was being ejected.
Why can't you allow his mates came in aggressively to stop it.
Micky
Friday 21st of February 2025
@Exp, Corruption what else
Paul Morris
Friday 21st of February 2025
@Exp, Your right too many fools who regularly right on this site are too quick to blame Aussies for causing all the problems and complain that they should not be allowed into Bali , without the 120,000 Aussies coming to holiday each month Bali would be fkd. They were the first to come back to Bali after the bombings that killed so many of their compatriots and locals and they were the first to come back en mass after the pandemic so stop whinging about Aussies all the time they put food on the table that feeds your families.
M
Friday 21st of February 2025
@Exp, I wouldn't say that the aussie was completely clueless beaten by those thugs... anyway... I would basically avoid to get in that situation and search other night activities.