Sydney dad Bilal Kalache faces Bali court over claims he stole a Gucci bag from a duty free shop

Australian man Bilal Kalache has appeared in a Denpasar court on charges he stole a $1250 Gucci bag from a duty free shop, which could see him face up to five years in prison.

Sydney man Bilal Kalache has made his first appearance in a Bali court on a charge of stealing a $1250 Gucci bag from a duty free shop.

Representing himself, Mr Kalache has denied the charges and told the court that he didn’t steal the bag at all but rather claimed the store manager had told him he could pay for it at the airport later rather than paying at the Kuta shopfront.

Duty free staff denied this.

He also claimed he “forgot” to pay for it because shop staff had asked him and his party to leave.

Bilal Kalache in court. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

The 43-year-old, who was legally represented by a local lawyer after his arrest, dispensed with a lawyer for his trial.

Asked by judges if he wanted a lawyer, Mr Kalache said through a translator that he was representing himself. He then sat at the defence table with translator Wayan Ana.

Mr Kalache was arrested on January 10 during a Bali family holiday and accused of taking the bag from a store inside the Bali Galeria shopping mall. He faces one charge of theft, which carries a maximum five-year jail term.

He was later located at the Bali airport and the missing bag was allegedly found in a relative’s luggage. He has been locked up in jail ever since.

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Bilal Kalache was arrested on January 10 during a Bali family holiday. Picture: Lukman Bintoro

The duty free store manager, Cashielle Febrianti Fabiola, told the trial on Thursday that Mr Kalache’s group was “talking very loud” in the shop and that he had left the shop without paying for the bag.

Mr Kalache replied that the manager’s evidence was not true.

Shop staff member, Pande Komang Savitri, said Mr Kalache and his friends had “snapped” at her, claiming they were in a hurry and needed to go after paying cash for another bag valued at about $1000.

Bilal Kalache. Picture: Cindy Wockner

The Gucci bag, valued at $1250, which Bali police allege was stolen from a Duty Free store in a Bali Galeria shopping mall by Bilal Kalache. Picture: Supplied

Mr Kalache denied snapping at Ms Savitri, saying it was friend who had done this, not him.

Mr Kalache’s previous lawyer, Agus Suparman, said the legal team had attempted to mediate the matter and reach a peace agreement with the duty free store which could have seen Kalache pay for the bag, apologise and escape a jail term.

Bilal Kalache has denied the charges. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

However the duty free store, saying it was a luxury store, would not accept a settlement, opting to send him to court.

A Melbourne woman, also arrested in Bali and accused of stealing a pair of $550 earrings from an up-market shop, was able to negotiate a peace agreement earlier this month and was freed after five days detained at Kuta police station.

Mr Kalache’s friend, who was in the duty free store with him, will testify when the trial resumes next week.

Originally published as Sydney dad Bilal Kalache faces Bali court over claims he stole a Gucci bag from a duty free shop