Global Courant 2023-04-29 15:32:00
An Australian man was arrested in Indonesia’s conservative province of Aceh on Thursday after a drunken, naked robbery that left one person hospitalized.
Bodhi Mani Risby-Jones, 23, was arrested early Thursday morning on Simeulue Island, according to a report from the Sydney Morning Herald.
Simeulue is a surfing paradise off the coast of Sumatra.
The island’s chief of police, Senior Commissioner Jamitko, said Risby-Jones had been drinking before emerging from his hotel room naked after midnight.
He then chased and beat people on the village’s main road, according to Aceh media outlet Bithe.
Sometime before 1 a.m., Risby-Jones hit a passing motorcyclist. He then threw the motorcycle at the rider after it fell into the gutter.
Indonesian police said the man suffered serious injuries that required more than 50 stitches to his heel, as well as fractures.
“He came out of his room naked. The security guard tried to stop him, but was hit in the neck and fell down,” said Commissioner Jamitko, who, like many Indonesians, goes by one name.
“He then went out into the street and disturbed passersby. He beat almost everyone who was on the street.”
Onlookers were outraged by Risby-Jones’ behavior and attempted to burn down the resort where he was staying, the police chief added.
“Fortunately, the local police and the village chief managed to calm down the crowd,” said Commissioner Jamitko.
Authorities said they found a half-empty bottle of alcohol in Risby-Jones’ room.
However, he told them that he had not been drinking.
Risby-Jones has since said he was not himself during the incident.
“I don’t feel myself, almost possessed,” he said when he appeared under police guard for local media. “It was not me. Normally I’m a nice guy.”
