Aussie prisoner forgives security guards after Bali brawl
In an emotional court appearance, Australian Mohamed Rifai embraced the eight security guards who he was allegedly involved in a brawl with outside Finns Beach Club in Bali.
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In an emotional court appearance, Australian Mohamed Rifai has shaken hands with and embraced the eight security guards he is accused of brawling with in Bali.
After giving his witness testimony, Mr Rifai and the eight security guards forgave each other, hugging in front of the panel of judges in Denpasar District Court.
“Witness, would you forgive the defendants?” the presiding judge asked Mr Rifai.
“Yes,” Rifai answered.
On Tuesday, Mr Rifai appeared as a witness in a case brought forward against the eight security guards involved in the brawl at Finns Beach Club.
The guards have been identified as Gede Laksemana Aryawan, I Gusti Putu Agus Surya Negara, Wayan Alit Junaedi, I Made Ivan Darma Saputra, I Nengah Dading Gunadi, I Gede Ngurah Alit Sujana, I Ketut Gede Mawantara, and I Nyoman Mertayasa.
All eight guards are charged with article 351 subsection 1, assault causing minor injuries, and have been accused of assaulting Mr Rifai, his brothers and Mr Ebid.
If found guilty, they could face a maximum of two years and eight months in prison.
Mr Rifai is himself facing up to five years prison, if found guilty, following the alleged brawl at a posh beach club in Bali.
The 27-year-old 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, testified last week that he saw security handcuff his friend and hit him, telling the judge he was “100 per cent” sure it was one of the guards who laid the blow.
He said he was hit in the face, head, stomach and “almost all my body” during the brawl.
Mr Rifai was asked if he had also punched anyone, to which he said he had.
He 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.”
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.
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.
Mr Rifai’s trial will continue on June 3.
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