Australian man arrested over alleged carjacking, hit and run and fire in Bali
A Tasmanian man is accused of wreaking a night of havoc in Bali which included hitting two people with a car at high speed. Watch the video.
An Australian man has been arrested in Bali after allegedly stealing a car, crashing into two people and lighting the vehicle on fire.
Police say the carjacking victim was sitting inside a car parked outside The Club Bali in Badung, North Kuta when the suspect began pounding on the window at 1.30am on August 3.
The 40 year old, who police say is from Hobart in Tasmania and is being referred to by the initials WRJ, allegedly forced the victim out of the car before stealing it, driving away at high speed and hitting two people on the road.
The extent of their injuries is unknown.
The alleged carjacking victim, a Balinese man who had been working security at the club that night, called a fellow security guard and the pair attempted to chase the vehicle, but were quickly forced to abandon their pursuit due to the speed.
Police say the man then tried to locate the vehicle using a phone tracking app, as his wallet and phone were still inside, which pinged a location about 7km away on Buana Raya Street.
However, when a search proved unsuccessful, he reported the incident to police.
A short time later, Denpasar Fire Brigade received a report of a car fire in the same area, dispatching two fire crews who brought the flames under control at about 5.30am.
Video shared by Fire and Rescue Denpasar shows the vehicle completely engulfed in flames.
The carjacking victim was unharmed and no-one was hurt in the fire, however, the vehicle – a Toyota Avanza SUV – was completely destroyed with a loss estimated at $A14,200.
A nearby home also incurred minor damage during the blaze.
The Australian suspect was arrested and taken to North Kuta Police Station.
Police say the investigation is ongoing.
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Originally published as Australian man arrested over alleged carjacking, hit and run and fire in Bali
