British Crypto Trader In Bali Faces 12 Years In Prison For Theft And Violent Assault

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A British cryptocurrency trader charged with violent theft in Bali in December is being threatened with a maximum sentence of 12-years imprisonment in Bali’s notorious Kerobokan prison. 

Gregory Lee Simpson, 36, wore a rest vest during his trial at the Denpasar District Court on Wednesday 11th May where he was found guilty of violent theft. He is awaiting sentencing and he will likely be served with the maximum sentence for his crime. His accomplice, Nicola Di Santo is awaiting trial, and Mateusz Mariusz Morawa is believed to be still on the run from Indonesian authorities. 

While he awaits sentencing Simpson, and Di Santo awaits trial, they have both been placed on Indonesia’s red list. This essentially identifies them as flight risks who are suspected of planning to flee the country. After the verdict was announced Simpson was given no grace to file an appeal.

The incident was reported by The Bali Sun back in December 2021. The crime was taken seriously by Indonesian police from the moment it was reported. Two foreigners, now known to be Gregory Lee Simpson and Nicola Di Santo, along with Mateusz Mariusz Morawa coordinated a violent robbery of a villa in Seminyak. 

The police we called to the scene by the Italian villa owner’s wife who was held hostage and assaulted by Simpson and Di Santo during the robbery. They are said to have broken into the building around 2.30 am on the 28th of December 2021. 

As reported at the time, Simpson and Di Santo got 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.

Di Santo was arrested in the days following the incident in the Kerobokan area of Kuta, while police managed to track Simpson down at his girlfriend’s accommodation where he was arrested and charged. During the early interrogation, Di Santo revealed that she used to work for the victims who have not been named publicly. 

During Simpson’s trial, a full account of the events of the 28th December 2021 was recounted. The court heard how the defendant climbed over the back wall of the villa to avoid catching the attention of security guards and cameras at the front of the building. The court then heard how Simpson and Di Santo, with the alleged help of Mateusz Mariusz Morawa, set off 50 fireworks to distract and distress the. Sleeping victims. 

The court heard how the defendants wore black balaclavas as they violently gagged and bound the victims before physically assaulting them. They were told how Simpson held the victims at knifepoint and demanded the pin number for the safe. The court heard how the victims tried to protect themselves and their belongings, and the lawyers described how the victims were beaten to the point of vomiting blood before telling Simpson the codes.

When the victims told them the code, they proceeded to remove the full contents of the safe, including the license papers for multiple vehicles and millions of Indonesian rupiah in cash. They gathered all that they could from the house before making their escape.

The judge ruled that Simpson’s actions were both criminal and cruel, citing the premeditated nature of the robbery of a villa in Seminyak Estate and Spa Royal in Kuta, Badung. Simpson will be held by Denpasar police while he awaits sentencing though it is likely he will be served with the maximum jail sentence for the violent crime he has been convicted of.