Death penalty looms for Aussie trio in Bali shooting
Melbourne father Zivan 'Stipe' Radmanovic, 32, was fatally shot, while 34-year-old Sanar Ghanim was injured when the pair were ambushed during their stay at Villa Casa Santisya in Munggu, in Bali's Badung Regency, in the early hours of Saturday.
Two gunmen fled the scene on motorbikes after bashing and shooting both men.
On Tuesday, police said one suspect had been arrested while attempting to board a flight at Jakarta International Airport, and another was taken into custody in Singapore.
By Wednesday, police confirmed that a third Australian man had been arrested in Singapore too. Zivan Radmanovic (left) was fatally shot, while Sanar Ghanim (right) was injured in the incident. Credit: Supplied
All three men, identified by police only as 'D', 'C' and 'T', could face the death penalty if convicted, authorities said.
Bali Police Chief Inspector General Daniel Adityajaya said the third man allegedly helped transfer the gunmen into a white Toyota Fortuner, which was later found in Tabanan.
The group then switched vehicles to a Suzuki XL7 and travelled to Surabaya in East Java before attempting to leave the country via Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta.
'One man was arrested by immigration and personnel from Jakarta police and National police in Jakarta airport,' Adityajaya said.
'The other two people managed to escape but we managed to bring them back by working together with Interpol working in the South-East Asian region.' Bali police display evidence related to the shooting of two Australians, at a police station in Badung, Bali, on June 18. Credit: Made Nagi / AAP The suspects used motorbikes and two cars to flee after the deadly attack, police say. Credit: Made Nagi / EPA
Police have seized both vehicles, motorbikes, a sledgehammer, and a bloodstained shirt as part of their investigation.
The Melbourne men were staying at the villa with their wives and another tourist, occupying all three rooms, when chaos erupted in the early hours of Saturday.
According to 30-year-old Gourdeas Jazmyn, her husband Zivan Radmanovic was in the bathroom when a man, dressed in an orange jacket and wearing a dark helmet, burst in and opened fire.
Jazmyn hid beneath the covers in bed as she heard her husband scream, followed by a volley of gunshots.
Peeking out from under the blanket, she saw the gunman fleeing the bathroom. The two victims were staying at the villa with their wives when chaos erupted. Credit: Made Nagi / EPA
Moments later, a second attacker, wearing a green jacket, dark mask, and helmet, was seen forcing his way into the neighbouring room by smashing a window, where the second victim, Sanar Ghanim, was staying.
The first gunman was also seen entering that room, with witnesses reporting more gunfire soon after.
Police later recovered 17 bullet casings, two intact bullets, and 55 projectile fragments from the scene.
Radmanovic died at the scene, while Ghanim was rushed to hospital in a serious condition.
Witnesses said the gunmen spoke with strong Australian accents, with one reportedly saying, 'I can't start my bike.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
The conman, the jet and the Australian developer who helped bring him down
Ahsan Ali Syed had all the trappings of wealth: a private jet, a luxury Swiss apartment overlooking Lake Lucerne, an opulent office in Bahrain and a top-tier Spanish football team, Racing Santander. But after a decade on the run, the jet-setting fraudster is behind bars in Switzerland, largely due to the efforts of Sydney property developer Keith Johnson and New Zealander Mark Van Leewarden, a former undercover cop turned barrister who specialises in international fraud investigations. From September 2010 to May 2011, Syed scammed close to $50 million from Australian and New Zealand businesspeople who had trouble getting finance in the wake of the 2007-2008 Global Financial Crisis. 'He used an opulent office in Bahrain to lure the victims,' said Van Leewarden, who has spent years in pursuit of Syed. From all accounts, Syed looked the part sitting at his polished desk, wearing a silk cravat, bejewelled fingers and surrounded by busts of horse heads. His company, Western Gulf Advisory (WGA), boasted that 'Mr Ali is a trusted adviser of royal individuals and families, high-profile luminaries and people of public importance'. He also claimed to have a family fortune of $8 billion to invest. The truth was far different. Syed was wanted in India over an immigration racket and, having moved to London, he fled from there in 2005 owing £7800 ($12,520) in rent, along with a string of unpaid bills. Three years later he set up WGA and began his scam, offering loans of up to $US200 million. However, borrowers had to stump up an establishment fee worth 1.6 per cent of the loan. The promised loans to his 23 victims never eventuated.
The Age
2 hours ago
- The Age
The conman, the jet and the Australian developer who helped bring him down
Ahsan Ali Syed had all the trappings of wealth: a private jet, a luxury Swiss apartment overlooking Lake Lucerne, an opulent office in Bahrain and a top-tier Spanish football team, Racing Santander. But after a decade on the run, the jet-setting fraudster is behind bars in Switzerland, largely due to the efforts of Sydney property developer Keith Johnson and New Zealander Mark Van Leewarden, a former undercover cop turned barrister who specialises in international fraud investigations. From September 2010 to May 2011, Syed scammed close to $50 million from Australian and New Zealand businesspeople who had trouble getting finance in the wake of the 2007-2008 Global Financial Crisis. 'He used an opulent office in Bahrain to lure the victims,' said Van Leewarden, who has spent years in pursuit of Syed. From all accounts, Syed looked the part sitting at his polished desk, wearing a silk cravat, bejewelled fingers and surrounded by busts of horse heads. His company, Western Gulf Advisory (WGA), boasted that 'Mr Ali is a trusted adviser of royal individuals and families, high-profile luminaries and people of public importance'. He also claimed to have a family fortune of $8 billion to invest. The truth was far different. Syed was wanted in India over an immigration racket and, having moved to London, he fled from there in 2005 owing £7800 ($12,520) in rent, along with a string of unpaid bills. Three years later he set up WGA and began his scam, offering loans of up to $US200 million. However, borrowers had to stump up an establishment fee worth 1.6 per cent of the loan. The promised loans to his 23 victims never eventuated.
SBS Australia
14 hours ago
- SBS Australia
The $200 trick criminals use to turn some Australians into 'money mules'
Criminals are offering Australians as little as $200 to rent out their bank accounts, turning people into "money mules". The Australian Federal Police (AFP) warned this week that renting, selling or sharing your bank account details is illegal and can expose you to serious risk, even if you don't realise a crime is being committed. The AFP said in many cases, people are offered between $200 and $500, or promised a cut of the transferred funds, simply for receiving and passing on money through their personal bank accounts. That money is often funnelled through cryptocurrency platforms or withdrawn in cash to make it harder to trace. AFP detective superintendent Marie Andersson said criminals rely on everyday Australians to help move their money. "It is illegal to rent, buy or sell bank accounts, and doing so supports the criminal ecosystem," Andersson said. "Your account may be housing money derived from scams, extortion, drug trafficking and terrorism." The AFP said a 26-year-old woman was jailed in April this year as part of a money laundering syndicate which used money mules in Sydney and Melbourne to pick up and deposit cash — which was alleged to be the proceeds of criminal activity — into bank accounts. These accounts were used to launder $3.8 million in proceeds of crime, which were ultimately transferred overseas. Mule accounts a 'key tactic in a criminal's playbook' According to the Commonwealth Bank, many people who act as money mules are not aware they are doing anything wrong. Some are recruited through job scams or social media ads offering easy income, while others are approached by friends or acquaintances. Young people, students and new arrivals to Australia are often targeted. An example of a money mule scam text message. Source: Supplied / Commonwealth Bank Australian Banking Association CEO Anna Bligh said mule accounts were a key part of a scammer's business model and banks were focused on identifying, investigating and shutting them down. "Using mule accounts to hide and move stolen money around is a key tactic in a criminal's playbook," Bligh said. "I urge Australians to steer clear if you've seen an advertisement or are approached to rent or sell your bank account. There's a good chance you're being recruited to hide the profits of criminal activity." To stay safe, the AFP and banks recommend: Never sharing your bank account or login details with anyone Avoiding job offers that involve receiving and forwarding money. Reporting anything suspicious to your bank, Scamwatch or ReportCyber.
