Mother Of Teenager Assaulted In Bali Night Club Seeks Justice

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A Balinese mother and son are seeking justice after the 17-year-old boy claims to have been assaulted by a tourist at a nightclub in Seminyak on Sunday 29th June. The pair reported the incident to Denpasar Police on Thursday 2nd, accompanied by their lawyer Erick Kaligis. 

Speaking to local newspaper, Radar Bali, Erick Kaligis said that a case has been filed with the local police department. He said that his client, known to the press only by his initials BN, was assaulted by a caucasian man on Sunday night. Kaligis believes his client is the victim of physical violence and that there are violations around child protection to be explored both by the venue and the accused.

Kaligis recounted the events as he understands them. He said that BN’s friend was pushed by someone in the nightclub in the early hours in a seemingly unprovoked attack. It seems that a fight then broke out that resulted in BN being beaten. Kaligis went on to say that ‘At that time, it was my client who was targeted. Another person came from the side and strangled him so that there were bruises on his neck’.

The fight is said to have caught the attention of the nightclub bouncers who came to break up the commotion. Thinking that BN was the instigator of the fight the club’s security team is said to have grabbed BN by the neck once again and pinned him to the floor.

According to local reports once BN and his friend were removed from the building and taken out to the pavement. The lawyer described how his client was violently manhandled out of the building. 

The person who initially pushed BN’s friend is said to have followed them out to the street and approached them to apologize for the incident. This did little for BN who was still nursing a bruised abdomen, winded chest, and sore neck. 

BN, who is half Indonesian and half French, walked himself home and told his mother of the evening’s events. She was distressed by the situation and after a few days of deliberation decided that action must be taken. She contacted lawyer Erick Kaligis and they lodged a report with the local police. 

Reportedly, BN’s mother contacted the Opera Night Club’s management team and was met with little sympathy. The club is said to be owned by a German businessman. Speaking to the local press a spokesperson from the nightclub said ‘There was a bit of a commotion but security was able to sort it out. There was indeed a noise among guests. But they are already at peace’.

When asked for a statement the local police were unable to offer any clarification on the case. Since BN is 17-years of age there may be questions raised as to how he was able to be a nightclub in the first place. Though the rules around the minimum age for clubbing in Indonesia are unclear, there is a drinking age restriction of 21-years.

It is unclear at this time if the club will face fines for allowing entry or possibly serving a minor. Or whether the liability lies with BN or his mother. Police did not say whether they had been able to identify the caucasian man that is said to have instigated the fight on Sunday. 

Bali’s world-famous nightclubs and beach clubs are welcoming the reopening of Bali to international travelers. Each year tens of thousands of visitors arrive in Bali with only one intention, to party hard at the island’s iconic venue. As the world moves closer to the end of the pandemic there is certainly reason to celebrate.