Aussie tourist jailed in Bali over bar bill row
An Australian man has been jailed for 16 months over the assault of a Bali nightclub manager, with a judge criticising him for “beating around the bush” during his trial.
Scott Dobson appeared relaxed at Denpasar District Court on Monday when he was convicted of assaulting Kenneth Wickes at the popular night spot Sky Garden after a dispute about a drinks bill on September 27, 2013.
In sentencing him, Chief Judge Ni Made Sukereni criticised Dobson for “beating around the bush” during the trial and “not admitting” to what he had done.
“There is no justification or reason that could eliminate the defendant’s mistake,” she added.
“(He) must be punished equally with his doings.”
But, she found, the 53-year-old had “behaved politely” during his trial and had never been punished before.
During the trial, Mr Wickes told the court he had approached Dobson and his friends after a dispute over a drinks bill.
It was then that he was set upon, he said.
Mr Wickes alleged he was stomped on and struck by fists and kicks about 10 to 12 times by Dobson and his friends, two of whom remain on Indonesia’s “wanted” list.
He also lost some of his teeth and said he continues to experience pain in his ear and eyes and suffers headaches.
But Dobson always denied that he did anything other than push Mr Wickes and claimed he had tried to stop others carrying out the rest of the attack.
The trial judges on Monday did not elaborate on what actually happened during the attack.
Judge Sukereni found, however, that Dobson had not caused Mr Wickes serious injury as prosecutors alleged.
Dobson, who is being held at Bali’s notorious Kerobokan prison, told reporters as he was leaving court that “the media lies”.
He smiled as he then said “congkel matanya”, meaning ‘snatch your eyes out’.
Dobson was arrested in February.
His sentence will take into account time already served.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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