Australian Mohamed Rifai gives his testimony, faces five years in jail for allegedly hitting security guard at Bali beach club

An Australian man who faces five years’ prison for allegedly landing a blow that left a security guard with missing teeth, has appeared in a Bali court.

An Australian man who faces up to five years’ prison following an alleged brawl at a posh beach club in Bali has claimed he was hit by 10 security guards at the venue.

Mohamed Rifai is accused of hitting security guard Made Bagus Yohanandita, who was detaining his friend, John Ebid, in the incident which occurred in February this year.

Mr Rifai, who denies the charges, appeared in a Bali court on Thursday where he provided his testimony.

The Sydney man said he followed security as they took Mr Ebid out of the club.

“I said that he is my friend. Let me take him. But then they handcuffed me,” Mr Rifai told the court.

“I begged the security to not assault me as I was suffering pain in my hand.”

Mohamed Rifai, from south-west Sydney, appears in a Bali court.

Mr Rifai, who at this point said he and Mr Ebid had been taken outside the club to a carpark, claimed security pushed him onto the floor.

He then said he saw security handcuff his friend and hit him, telling the judge he was “100 per cent” sure that it was one of the guards who laid the blow.

Then, Mr Rifai said that’s when security became “more aggressive”.

“Around 10 people hit me. I was hit in the head, body and other areas. They hit me and kicked me,” he told the court.

Mr Rifai was asked if he had also punched anyone, to which he said he had.

Mr Rifai said he wasn’t aware who he punched or how many times as “everything was chaos”.

“I don’t remember. Many people attacked me, I just tried to defend myself,” he told the court.

“I feel sorry for what I have done because the situation was chaos at that time.”

Mohamed Rifai is facing five years’ prison if found guilty.

Finns Beach Club is a luxury hangout, popular among tourists. Picture: Google Maps

Mr Rifai was with a group of six people, including three who were his siblings, and said they were “ordering food, enjoying the pool and music” at the club before the incident.

The judge asked if Mr Rifai’s siblings also joined in on the incident outside the club, to which he said they had.

“Because at that time I was on the floor and hit by the security. And John Ebid was also being punched and hit,” Mr Rifai told the court.

In earlier trials, the court heard statements from six witnesses, including the victim Yohanandita.

Other witnesses were also security guards and floor managers of Finns Beach Club.

All witnesses accused Mr Rifai as the one who assaulted Yohanandita, who was left with missing teeth after the incident.

The case was due to return to court on June 3.

Originally published as Australian Mohamed Rifai gives his testimony, faces five years in jail for allegedly hitting security guard at Bali beach club