Latest news with #Badung
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Heartbreaking scenes as iconic Bingin Beach surf spot in Bali is destroyed
Aussies heading to Bali have been left in limbo as an iconic attraction is demolished, sparking an outpouring of anger and devastation from locals. For decades, thousands of international tourists have flocked to Bingin Beach, an idyllic and laid-back surfing spot on the Indonesian holiday island. Almost 50 local businesses were recently served demolition notices, after a government investigation ruled the developments were illegal due to a violation of planning laws and building regulations. Business owners have spent weeks fighting for survival after the Badung Regency Government announced the demolition orders would proceed within days. Authorities have been true to their word, with multiple videos on Monday showing dozens of officials in high-vis gear and hard hats storming into businesses. One clip showed Bali Governor Wayan Koster proudly smashing down a door with a hammer while surrounded by media crews and delighted officials. Other videos showed distraught locals fighting back tears as they watched their beloved businesses and livelihoods be destroyed. Aussies staying in Bingin Beach have been left scrambling to book alternative accommodation, with villas and homestays among the businesses impacted. 'We have received a warrant for the demolition of the violating building at Bingin Beach,' Badung PP Police head Gusti Agung Ketut Suryanegara said. 'We immediately sent a notification letter to the owners of the building in question, stating that the demolition will begin on July 21 and continue until it is completed. 'Our community in Pecatu is very aware that they carry out activities on the land. So I hope no one comes to say this and that, pretending to be a saviour, to be a hero. 'People are aware when building on land that does not belong to them, so it is natural for them to leave the land.' Authorities have deployed 500 officers to undertake the demolition, which will ramp up in the coming weeks, the Bali Sun reported. Eleven-time surfing world champion Kelly Slater was among the many Aussies devastated by the news of the demolition works. 'Awful to hear and see that the beachfront at Bingin in Bali has been bought up and all the local (eateries) and other businesses will be demolished to make room for some kind of beach club and not sure what else?' he wrote on social media. 'Bali has been completely mishandled and ruined by foreign interests in recent years. I hope something can be done to retain the culture and beauty of what attracted everyone there in the first place.' The close-knit community has launched legal action and vowed the fight was far from over. 'Our hearts are breaking watching this happen to such a magical place,' community group Save Bingin Beach posted on Monday. 'It's not fair to the local people, who now have to watch their businesses and livelihoods being smashed and torn down. We can't stay silent – we must keep fighting. We must save Bingin.' A petition against the demolitions has received almost 14,000 signatures. 'If this demolition proceeds, hundreds of Balinese families face the risk of losing everything, from their businesses and homes to their sole source of income,' it states. 'What's at stake isn't just the physical structure, but the future of a destination that has grown and developed organically by the local community over more than 40 years, becoming the globally recognised Bingin Beach.' The Bingin beachfront remains open, along with businesses that haven't been impacted by the demolition orders. Locals have urged overseas tourists not to make matters worse by getting involved in the community protest. Foreigners caught protesting against the government can be slapped with an automatic two-week jail term, followed by immediate deportation.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Demolition begins at iconic Bali surf spot Bingin Beach: ‘Ruined'
One of Bali's most iconic surf destinations will be changed and transformed forever as Indonesian authorities begin demolishing more than 40 businesses along the famous Bingin Beach. Footage emerging from the cliffside tourist hotspot on Monday morning shows authorities destroying bars with hammers and breaking through locked doors. Earlier footage shows local authorities plastering eviction and demolition notices on buildings in a move that has left Australian travellers scrambling and the global surf community in uproar. Government-mandated demolitions were set to begin today at the beloved beach location, following months of failed negotiations between business owners and the Badung Regency Government. is aware of Australian travellers whose bookings at the popular destination have been voided as the demolition begins. The drastic action follows an investigation by Bali's civil police unit, the Satpol PP, which found that more than 40 buildings in the Bingin Beach area, some of which have been there for decades, were violating spatial planning laws and building regulations. After weeks of back-and-forth negotiations with desperate business owners attempting to halt the demolition orders, authorities have drawn a line in the sand. 'It is true that we have received a warrant for the demolition of the violating building at Bingin Beach,' Head of the Badung PP Police, I Gusti Agung Ketut Suryanegara, told reporters, as per the Bali Sun. 'We immediately sent a notification letter to the owners of the building in question, stating that the demolition will begin on July 21, 2025, and continue until it is completed.' Uluwatu's Bingin Beach has been a pilgrimage site for surfers since the late 1970s, with Australians making up a significant chunk of repeat visitors, and even expats. The beach's world-class barrelling lefts and laid-back atmosphere have made it a go-to within the global surf community, with the breaks Impossibles and Bingin. The demolition notices, issued via letter, posters, and WhatsApp messages, affect 45 buildings, including villas, homestays, restaurants, and other tourist facilities. The violations included breaches of spatial planning rules, environmental laws, and alleged encroachment on state land. 'We did this notification in various ways, in order to minimise the reason for ignorance during the execution process,' Head of Investigation Ida Bagus Ratu told local media. Regent of Badung Adi Arnawa said authorities will follow through on the mandate by the Bali Provincial Government despite widespread public outcry. 'Our community in Pecatu is very aware that they carry out activities on the land. So I hope no one comes to say this and that, pretending to be a saviour, to be a hero. People are aware when building on land that does not belong to them, so it is natural for them to leave the land,' Regent Arnawa stated, as per the Bali Sun. Widespread speculation suggests the removals may be linked to plans for luxury beach club development, similar to those proliferating throughout the Uluwatu area in recent years, though this is denied by authorities. Eleven-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater is among those voicing concern on social media. 'Awful to hear and see that the beachfront at Bingin in Bali has been bought up and all the local (eateries) and other businesses will be demolished to make room for some kind of beach club and not sure what else?' he said. 'Bali has been completely mishandled and ruined by foreign interests in recent years. 'I hope something can be done to retain the culture and beauty of what attracted everyone there in the first place.' Popular citizen journalist social media account among expats, Uluwatu Community, has been leading a campaign against the demolition, declaring: 'Rumors are spreading: is this really about law enforcement or about clearing prime land for bigger investors with deeper pockets?' 'It seems the idea of an 'undeveloped' cliff no longer fits into certain visions for the future.' Among the businesses facing demolition is Kelly's Warung, a beloved eatery perched in front of the famous Bingin surf break. The family-owned establishment, which has operated for 'generations', remains optimistic they will 'be here for generations more.' 'We have been here for generations, same family owned, passed down,' the warung stated. Uluwatu Community added, 'Bingin residents and business owners have hired four lawyers.' 'A legal battle may be just getting started.'
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Yahoo
Three Australians face death penalty for Bali villa murder; two arrested after fleeing to Singapore
BADUNG, June 27 — Three Australian men have been formally charged with premeditated murder in Bali, a crime that carries the death penalty in Indonesia, following a fatal shooting earlier this month that killed one Australian and seriously injured another. The suspects — Tupou Pasa Midolmore, 37, Coskun Mevlut, 23, and Darcy Francesco Jenson, 37 — were presented to the media on Thursday, handcuffed and dressed in orange prison uniforms and balaclavas, according to a report published in the Jakarta Globe today. 'This was a carefully planned, organised attack — not a spontaneous act,' said Bali Police Chief Inspector General Daniel Adityajaya, describing the shooting as a professional operation carried out with clear intent. The incident took place on June 14 at Villa Casa Santisya in Badung, where the trio allegedly arrived on two motorbikes, attacked the victims, and escaped in separate vehicles. The suspects fled Bali through multiple provinces, eventually reaching Sidoarjo in East Java before taking a bus to Jakarta; police say they planned to flee the country via Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. Police officers escort Australian suspect Darcy Francesco Jenson to a press conference at Badung district police station in Badung, on June 26, 2025. — AFP pic One suspect was arrested in Jakarta, while the other two were apprehended in Singapore with the help of local authorities. The shooting claimed the life of Zivan Radmanovic, 32, and left 34-year-old Sanar Ghanim hospitalised with serious injuries, both of whom are Australian nationals. According to police, Jenson masterminded the operation, securing accommodation, arranging transport, purchasing a hammer to break into the villa, and preparing travel documents for their escape. Midolmore and Mevlut are alleged to have carried out the assault, with investigators saying the men posed as motorbike taxi riders by wearing ride-hailing service jackets to approach the villa without raising suspicion. While the investigation has advanced, police have yet to determine the motive behind the attack and are continuing to gather evidence. The trio face charges under Article 340 of Indonesia's Criminal Code for premeditated murder, and under the firearms law for illegal possession of firearms, both of which carry severe penalties. 'Our investigation is ongoing, and we do not rule out the possibility of additional suspects being involved,' said Daniel.
Daily Mail
01-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Inside the high-pressure tactics Bali cops are using to 'crack' accused hitmen who allegedly gunned down Aussie gangster - as they hone in on a major clue
An investigation into the fatal shooting of Zivan Radmanovic in Bali has entered its third week, as detectives ramp up the pressure on three suspects in custody. Radmanovic, 32, from Melbourne, was killed just after midnight on June 13 at a villa near Munggu Beach in Bali's Badung district, where his wife was also staying. A second man staying in the villa with his partner, 34-year-old Sanar Ghanim, was also seriously injured in the attack, which is believed to be linked to Melbourne's feuding Middle Eastern crime syndicates. Three Australian men have been arrested in connection to the killing, Midolmore Pasa Tupou, 27, Darcy Francesco Jenson, 27, and Mevlut Coskun, 22. Bali police allege they have gathered enough evidence to charge the suspects with premeditated murder, a crime that under Indonesian law carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment or the death sentence. 'We are now investigating the evidence that has been found at the crime scene, as well as all other evidence collected by investigators,' Bali Police Senior Commissioner Ariasandy said. A key focus of the investigation, which is being supported by the Australian Federal Police, is a firearm that was found in a nearby river. Authorities suspect it may have been used in the shooting and are attempting to link it via DNA to the suspects. Police are investigating a firearm found in a river that may have been used in the shooting at the Bali property (pictured is a bullet hole in the villa) 'We had found the gun that allegedly was used in the crime,' Ariasandy said. 'We are now working with the forensic laboratory to find the correlation between all the suspects and the gun, to find out whether it was indeed the weapon used by the suspects. 'We will match it with the suspects' DNA (and) we are also investigating the bullet casings.' Police said the suspects have been uncooperative and are refusing to speak. 'We are applying scientific crime investigation in this case. So, we are making sure that the investigation is conducted based on scientific methods,' Ariasandy explained. He alleged one of the suspects, Darcy Jenson, has made 'limited admissions' about arranging a car, villa and other logistics, but has not made any admissions regarding the shooting. When asked whether the suspects had refused formal interrogation, Ariasandy said '[it is] their right to do so' 'Based on our Criminal Code, investigators can proceed with the case using a minimum of two pieces of evidence. A suspect's admission is only one of many types of evidence that we can use to bring the case to court.' The suspects are currently being detained separately, Darcy at the Bali Police Headquarters and the two others at the Badung Police Station. According to police, the separation is a deliberate tactic to get more information. 'It's part of our strategy for the investigation, so we can get the best result,' Ariasandy said. As the case moves forward, police are preparing to conduct a pre-reenactment, a common part of criminal investigations in Indonesia. During this early-stage procedure, suspects are taken to the crime scene to physically demonstrate their alleged roles. Photographs taken during the reenactment are used in the official case file. 'Yes, it is part of the investigation process. It will show how far the investigation has progressed,' Ariasandy said. He said pre-reenactments often help uncover new facts, as suspects may reveal more when reenacting events in person than during questioning. A full reenactment will be held later, as part of the final dossier for prosecution. Investigators say they are confident in the strength of their case, though they are yet to reveal an alleged motive. They continue to gather forensic and testimonial evidence in preparation for court, as the suspects are confronted with the possibility of life in prison or capital punishment.
Malay Mail
27-06-2025
- Malay Mail
Three Australians face death penalty for Bali villa murder; two arrested after fleeing to Singapore
BADUNG, June 27 — Three Australian men have been formally charged with premeditated murder in Bali, a crime that carries the death penalty in Indonesia, following a fatal shooting earlier this month that killed one Australian and seriously injured another. The suspects — Tupou Pasa Midolmore, 37, Coskun Mevlut, 23, and Darcy Francesco Jenson, 37 — were presented to the media on Thursday, handcuffed and dressed in orange prison uniforms and balaclavas, according to a report published in the Jakarta Globe today. 'This was a carefully planned, organised attack — not a spontaneous act,' said Bali Police Chief Inspector General Daniel Adityajaya, describing the shooting as a professional operation carried out with clear intent. The incident took place on June 14 at Villa Casa Santisya in Badung, where the trio allegedly arrived on two motorbikes, attacked the victims, and escaped in separate vehicles. The suspects fled Bali through multiple provinces, eventually reaching Sidoarjo in East Java before taking a bus to Jakarta; police say they planned to flee the country via Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. Police officers escort Australian suspect Darcy Francesco Jenson to a press conference at Badung district police station in Badung, on June 26, 2025. — AFP pic One suspect was arrested in Jakarta, while the other two were apprehended in Singapore with the help of local authorities. The shooting claimed the life of Zivan Radmanovic, 32, and left 34-year-old Sanar Ghanim hospitalised with serious injuries, both of whom are Australian nationals. According to police, Jenson masterminded the operation, securing accommodation, arranging transport, purchasing a hammer to break into the villa, and preparing travel documents for their escape. Midolmore and Mevlut are alleged to have carried out the assault, with investigators saying the men posed as motorbike taxi riders by wearing ride-hailing service jackets to approach the villa without raising suspicion. While the investigation has advanced, police have yet to determine the motive behind the attack and are continuing to gather evidence. The trio face charges under Article 340 of Indonesia's Criminal Code for premeditated murder, and under the firearms law for illegal possession of firearms, both of which carry severe penalties. 'Our investigation is ongoing, and we do not rule out the possibility of additional suspects being involved,' said Daniel.
