Surfer ‘almost possessed’ in drunk rampage
A young Aussie travelling abroad has woken up with more than just a hangover after allegedly going on a drunk and naked rampage in a conservative part of Asia.
Bodhi Mani Risby-Jones, 23, was detained by police in the Aceh province on the Indonesian island of Simeulue, where his actions reportedly had an angry mob threatening to burn down his accommodation.
But the Noosa man now claims he was “almost possessed” during the incident.
“I got hit a lot of times on the ground, people kicked my head ... make me forget a bit,” he told the ABC.
“But like I’m a really nice in heart, I never want to hurt people, never ... so it was very out of character for me.”
Mr Risby-Jones had reportedly been drinking from a vodka bottle before he stripped in his room at the Moon Beach Resort sometime after midnight.
Local police allege Mr Risby-Jones left his room still naked and assaulted a security officer who attempted to stop him.
Simeulue police chief Senior Commissioner Jatmiko told the Sydney Morning Herald that the security officer was allegedly hit in the neck and fell.
“He then went on to the street and disturbed passers-by,” Jatmiko alleged of Mr Risby-Jones.
Police also allege the young Aussie struck a passing motorcyclist and threw the motorcycle on the man as he fell into the gutter.
The police chief said the motorcyclist suffered a leg injury that required 50 stitches in hospital.
Jatmiko said onlookers in the area were outraged at Mr Risby-Jones’ alleged behaviour and tried to set his accommodation alight.
“Luckily, local police and the village head managed to calm down the mob,” Jatmiko told the Herald.
Mr Risby-Jones, who was on a surfing holiday from Noosa in Queensland, is now facing charges under Article 351 of the Indonesian penal code.
He faces a maximum five years in prison if he is convicted of maltreatment resulting in serious physical injury.
He could also face charges under Islamic law, as the consumption and sale of alcohol is banned in Aceh.
Asked about his actions on Saturday morning, Mr Risby-Jones claimed to have had only one shot of vodka and that he “normally not drink much (sic) in Australia.
“I was surfing a lot the day before so I had sunstroke ... not enough drinking water ... it was a lot of things...I felt really bad,” he said.
Public canings are still in place in the area for morality offences, and people can be lashed for consuming alcohol.
