Latest news with #Kuta
News.com.au
4 hours ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Bali bomb maker Umar Patek launches business in Indonesia
A convicted terrorist and bombmaker in the 2002 Bali bombings that killed more than 200 people has launched a new business in Indonesia — claiming he is now 'brewing peace'. The news has been met with anger from the families of those who died in the bombing. Some 88 Australians lost their lives in the attack on two nightclubs in the popular tourist district of Kuta on Saturday night, October 12, 2002. On top of the 202 people who died, 240 others were injured. Umar Patek was on the run for almost a decade and was eventually tracked down in Pakistan in 2011 and arrested. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2012 but was released from jail in Java, Indonesia on parole in December 2022 after serving 11 years. The early release was slammed by Australian officials. Now, he is opening a coffee business. Patek told the South China Morning Post 's This Week in Asia about his 'Coffee RAMU 1966 by Umar Patek' venture. 'Before, I was known for something that hurt the world,' he said. 'Now I have chosen a different path.' Hedon Estate, a restaurant in Surabaya, Indonesia, has helped Patek launch the business. Patek said the owner had donated equipment to make the coffee and they would stock his products. He told This Week in Asia that the move was about starting a new life. 'Once, I concocted bombs, and now I concoct coffee,' Patek said. Hedon Estate will host the launch of RAMU 1966 by Umar Patek on Tuesday. The restaurant has posted promotional videos with Patek on social media. One caption, translated to English, reads: 'He was known for the wounds he left, now he is remembered for the aroma of coffee he brewed. 'His life's journey is not about a dark past, but about the courage to change and choose a path that brings peace. One man, one cup of coffee, and a million new hopes.' On Patek's prison release in 2022, Indonesia said Patek had participated in the country's deradicalisation program and earned remissions for good behaviour. Then Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil said Patek's release was an 'absolutely horrible day for the victims of the Bali bombings'. Australian Sandra Thompson, whose 29-year-old son Clint Thompson died in the bombings, reacted to the news of Patek's new business. 'Has this man repented? Does he still think what he did was morally right? Or has he just served a sentence then moved on?' she told This Week in Asia. 'Two hundred and two lives plus an unborn baby and survivors still living with the effects of their injuries. Has he paid for that? Never, if he has no remorse.' Patek has previously labelled himself 'a murderer and a sinner' and said he has apologised to victims open to hearing him. 'Everyone who has met with me in person has forgiven me,' Patek claimed in a Q&A for Al Jazeera in 2023. 'When I meet victims, I say, 'I am Umar Patek and I was involved in the Bali bombing,' then I explain why I was there, and apologise.' He added: 'I did not say sorry to get out of prison early, but everything is always wrong in other people's eyes. If I say sorry, people say I am pretending and it is a strategic choice. If I didn't apologise, people would say I was arrogant.'
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Byron was holidaying in Bali and shared a photo from a beachside restaurant... then his family received tragic news
An Aussie tourist has died in Bali after his holiday took a tragic turn with his family issuing an urgent plea to help bring his body home. Sunshine Coast man Byron Haddow died while overseas with his heartbroken family announcing the news on Tuesday. His father Robert shared an emotional message on Facebook. 'As most would be waking up to the news this morning and as most would understand we are trying to comprehend and deal with the initial shock,' he wrote. 'We ask you guys to give us time to try and get back to everyone's messages of condolences.' Mr Haddow said he and Byron's mother Chantal were 'not sure where to look, think, and how to deal with this [at the moment] please understand'. The family has not publicly stated how Byron died. In his final posts to social media, he shared an image dining at a beachside restaurant in Kuta, Bali and another at what appeared to be an upmarket property with a sprawling poolside deck. Earlier posts suggest the Byron previously travelled to Bali just under a year ago between drawn out stints mining across the Northern Territory. 'One extreme to the other out in the desert,' he wrote alongside one image. 'A month of looking at red dirt,' he said beside another. A GoFundMe has been launched to help the family raise money to 'help bring Byron home'. The fundraiser has so far raised $21,881 from 265 donations, more than doubling the target of $10,000. 'In the morning of the 26th of May we unfortunately lost Byron whilst he was on holidays in Bali,' the fundraiser read. 'A son, brother, and friend to many taken way too soon. As many of you know he was living his life to the fullest, working away, and achieving so many things. 'All donations will go towards helping bring Byron home to his family, funeral arrangements and expenses to help his family through this tough time. 'Please keep his family in your prayers and thoughts as they navigate through this difficult time. Any help is appreciated.' Friends too have spoken out to remember a funny and ambitious young man. 'Rest in peace my brother from another mother, you've been taken too soon. 'I'll always remember the good days and times we have had and the mischief we made and got up to love you always brother. Rest in peace Byron Haddow you'll never be forgotten.' Another shared a screenshot of a recent message to Byron alongside a comment reading: 'Was waiting for a message back from you bro.
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Surprising scenes in court between an Aussie tourist and Bali security guards involved in wild brawl at a world famous beach club
An Aussie tourist who faces up to five years behind bars in Bali over a violent brawl has forgiven the security guards he's accused of assaulting. Mohamed Rifai, 27, from Sydney 's south-west, appeared Denpasar District Court on Tuesday to continue his testimony about the February 11 melee. He and eight security guards remain in custody over the brawl outside Finns Beach Club in north Kuta which involved up to 15 security staff and five Australian tourists. Rifai claimed he acted in self-defence while he was allegedly attacked by the security guards after they escorted his friend John Ebid from the club. He is accused of inflicting major injuries on security staff, including Made Bagus Yohanandita, who suffered head injuries and lost several teeth. In a surprise twist, Rifai shook hands and embraced all eight co-accused security guards in front of the judge after giving evidence against them on Tuesday. At the end of his testimony, the judge asked Rifai, 'Will you forgive them?', referring to the guards who were also standing trial. 'Yes, I will,' Rifai said. The judge responded: 'Please, all of you forgive each other. During his victim testimony, Rifai recalled how by Mr Ebid's removal. 'I was in the main pool and saw my friend being taken out so I approached him (a security guard),' he told the court. 'I asked what happened and he said to let him take him (Mr Ebid) but then they did the same thing to me.' When asked if the security used any weapons, Rifai claimed they used bamboo. '(I was hit) in my face, my head, almost all my body,' he said. 'They kicked my stomach also.' Rifai added he had been to Finns Beach Club 'several times' with family and friends and had 'never had a bad experience before'. Rifai is facing five years in Indonesian jail for the injuries security guard Made Bagus Yohanandita suffered in the alleged fight The eight security guards charged over the brawl are I 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. 'I' is a common prefix used to indicate the person is a male, compared to 'Ni' which is used for women. The court heard all eight security guards and Rifai had signed a 'peace agreement', witnessed by police, following the brawl. The eight staff have been charged with assault causing minor injuries and each face up to two years and eight months behind bars if found guilty. Rifai faces five years in Indonesian jail for the injuries Mr Yohanandita suffered in the altercation. However he claims it was another security guard who laid the damaging blow. When Rifai was asked who he hit and how many punches he threw on February 11, he said '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.' Rifai's trial will continue on June 3. It's understood the apologies exchanged between the parties in court on Tuesday could lead to lighter sentences if convicted.
South China Morning Post
7 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
British man avoids death penalty after being caught with drugs in Bali
A court on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali sentenced a British man to 10 months in jail on Tuesday for drug offences after a charge that could carry the death penalty was dropped. Thomas Parker, from Cumbria in northwest England, was arrested on January 21 at a villa near Kuta beach, a popular tourist spot, after he allegedly collected a package containing drugs from a motorcycle taxi driver on a nearby street. Police officers said Parker was 'acting suspiciously' while he collected the package, according to the court document. He allegedly discarded it in a panic and fled when police approached him. He was traced back to the villa where he was staying and arrested. A lab test confirmed the package contained slightly over a kilogram (2.326 pounds) of MDMA, the main ingredient in Ecstasy, the document said. During the police investigation, the 32-year-old electrician was able to prove that he did not order the package. It was sent by a drug dealer friend, identified only as Nicky, whom Parker had known for around two years and spoke to regularly through the Telegram messaging app. Parker was told someone would pick it up shortly from him, and he was not promised money or anything else by Nicky in return. Police reduced the initial charge of drug trafficking, which carries a possible death sentence, to the less serious offence of hiding information from authorities after investigators determined that the package was not directly linked to him.
South China Morning Post
7 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
British man avoids death penalty after being caught with drugs in Bali
A court on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali sentenced a British man to 10 months in jail on Tuesday for drug offences after a charge that could carry the death penalty was dropped. Advertisement Thomas Parker, from Cumbria in northwest England, was arrested on January 21 at a villa near Kuta beach, a popular tourist spot, after he allegedly collected a package containing drugs from a motorcycle taxi driver on a nearby street. Police officers said Parker was 'acting suspiciously' while he collected the package, according to the court document. He allegedly discarded it in a panic and fled when police approached him. He was traced back to the villa where he was staying and arrested. A lab test confirmed the package contained slightly over a kilogram (2.326 pounds) of MDMA, the main ingredient in Ecstasy, the document said. During the police investigation, the 32-year-old electrician was able to prove that he did not order the package. It was sent by a drug dealer friend, identified only as Nicky, whom Parker had known for around two years and spoke to regularly through the Telegram messaging app. Advertisement Parker was told someone would pick it up shortly from him, and he was not promised money or anything else by Nicky in return. Police reduced the initial charge of drug trafficking, which carries a possible death sentence, to the less serious offence of hiding information from authorities after investigators determined that the package was not directly linked to him.
