Accused Gucci bag thief’s emotional plea to Bali judges

Sydney man Bilal Kalache has made a last-ditch appeal to a Bali court after prosecutors recommended his jail term for stealing a $1250 designer handbag from a duty free store.

Sydney man Bilal Kalache should be jailed for five months for stealing a $1250 designer handbag from a Bali duty free store.

The 43-year-old appeared in Denpasar District Court on Monday night to hear prosecutor Made Gede Bamaxs Wira Wibowo demand that the court declare Kalache a guilty man and jail him for five months.

The theft charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in jail so the demand is well short of the maximum term available.

Bilal Kalache was accused of stealing the bag from a high-end duty-free store. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

Kalache told the court that he wanted a lighter sentence.

Asked by the judges why, he said he had five children and a mother in Australia and it was hard.

“I am very sorry for wasting your time and I respect the Indonesian law and I’m very sorry,” Kalache said.

Prosecutor Wibowo said however that Kalache deserved to be punished.

“We, prosecutor, request the panel of judge to declare the defendant Bilal Kalache guilty of stealing as regulated in article 362 of criminal code, as mention in the indictment. Sentence the defendant Bilal Kalache to five months imprisonment.”

The Sydney man says he has five children and respects the law. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

Kalache was arrested on January 10 and accused of stealing the bag after visiting the store in Bali Mal Galeria.

Representing himself in court, Kalache has previously apologised for stealing the bag, saying that he “forgot” to pay for it.

“At the end of the day it was my fault. It was my mistake, you know what I mean and I apologise for it, you know what I mean. At the end of the day it is my responsibility,” Kalache told the court at an earlier hearing.

Australian Bilal Kalache has expressed remorse. Picture: Lukman S.Bintoro

Asked if he felt regret and remorse, he replied: “Oh yes.” And asked if he understood his mistake, Kalache told the judges: “Yes, yes 100 per cent. I am very sorry, very, very sorry ... I learned the hard way ... I apologise, if I offended anyone I am very sorry.”

The prosecution alleges that the stolen bag was later found inside the luggage of Kalache’s son at the airport. Kalache himself was not flying back that day but his son was returning to Sydney.

Attempts by Kalache to mediate the case and come to a “peace agreement” with the store and avoid charges and jail failed after the duty free store said it was a high-end establishment and would not negotiate.

Kalache will be sentenced on March 25. He remains in Bali’s Kerobokan prison.