Police Arrest 4 Perpetrators Of Beating Taxi Drivers In South Kuta

Police showed four people suspected of beating two online drivers in South Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali. ANTARA/HO-Humas Denpasar Police

The South Kuta Police and Denpasar Police have arrested four people suspected of beating a taxi driver in Labuhan Sait, South Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali.

Head of Public Relations of Denpasar Police AKP Ketut Sukadi said the four perpetrators who had been named as suspects were Melkianus Pinto, Sergito Lopes, Andrio Soares, Gaspar Duarte.

Meanwhile, two other people Mari and Fikri are still being chased by the police.

The four of them were charged with Article 170 of the Criminal Code (KUHP) regarding beatings with a maximum penalty of five years and six months in prison.

Sukadi explained that the incident occurred on Thursday, February 6, 2025, at around 03.00 WITA when the two victims Erwin Dere and Harton Nuhamara, who worked as online drivers, were hanging out in front of Saloto Bar Jalan Labuhan Sait, South Kuta, Badung.

"Suddenly both of them were attacked by approximately 10 to 15 people who work as online drivers and also brutally attacked," said Sukadi, Wednesday, February 12.

One of the victims, Erwin Dere then managed to escape after being hit by an iron rod in his left hand.

Meanwhile, another victim, Harton, was beaten by dozens of people. The victim had run into another restaurant not far from the scene, but was chased by the perpetrators and persecuted.

After the incident, the perpetrators, whose identities were not known, dispersed after being disbanded by a restaurant employee.

Victim Harton was then taken to the Bali Jimbaran Hospital.

After the report of the abuse arrived at the police, the South Kuta Police Opsnal team and the Denpasar Police Jatanras came to the TKP to meet the reporter and the victim for questioning.

After getting information from the two victims and studying CCTV around the crime scene, they finally got the characteristics of the alleged perpetrator.

"The team searched around Kutuh Village and finally managed to secure the perpetrators where they gathered," said Sukadi.

When interrogated, the perpetrator admitted that he had carried out the persecution or beatings together and each perpetrator showed items that were used at the time of the incident.

Currently, the perpetrators are being held at the South Kuta Police Rutan for legal proceedings.