Aussie woman held in Bali over earring theft freed

After spending five days behind bars in Bali, an Australian woman accused of stealing a pair of earrings has been released — but there was a catch.

A Melbourne woman accused of stealing a pair of $550 earrings in Bali and facing a jail term has been freed after reaching a “peace agreement” with the up-market boutique which owned the jewellery.

Police and her lawyer confirmed that Catherine Anne Hogg, from St Kilda, was freed after spending five days behind bars at Kuta police station.

Under a system called alternative dispute resolution Hogg reached an agreement to pay the store, Farah Khan, twice the cost of the earrings and to sign a document admitting her wrongdoing and promising not to repeat her actions.

Hogg shakes hands with Farah Khan shop manager Ahmad Baehomi after signing the peace statement at Kuta Police Office. Picture: Supplied

Hogg, who was on holiday in Bali, was arrested on Sunday last weekend after staff at the Farah Khan store in Seminyak Village realised a pair of earrings, valued at $550, were missing after Hogg had asked to view them.

Hogg had left the store and was caught nearby and taken to the Kuta police station.

She remained there, in a cell, until Thursday night, when the peace agreement was signed and she was released.

Police had viewed CCTV footage from the store and on Thursday said she was being held under a theft article of the Criminal Code, facing a charge of stealing which carries a five-year maximum jail term.

The shop where Australian Catherine Anne Hogg was arrested over a pair of earrings. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

Her lawyer said after her arrest that Hogg insisted it was a misunderstanding and that she had not intended to steal the earrings but had left the store to take a phone call and forgotten she still had the earrings with her.

Kuta police investigator, Putu Ika Prabawa, said Hogg was freed after the victim forgave her and a peace agreement was signed.

“She paid twice the price of the earrings to the victim,” he said.

He said that in the peace agreement Hogg had admitted her wrongdoing and promised not to repeat her actions.

The earrings in question worth AU$550. Picture: Supplied

“As there has been a deal between her and the victim the case is stopped. We call it alternative dispute resolution.”

As evidence of the deal, a photograph was taken of Hogg shaking the hand of the store manager, Ahmad Baehomi, before her release.

Lawyer Made Bandem Dananjaya said Hogg had paid 11 Million IDR or AU$1100 to the store. She did not keep the earrings.

Mr Dananjaya said he was not aware where Hogg had gone after her release and whether she had left Bali or continued her holiday.

Originally published as Aussie woman held in Bali over earring theft freed