DENPASAR, Indonesia (BN24)— Bali police announced Monday the arrest of two suspects in connection with a fatal shooting that killed one Australian tourist and seriously wounded another during a villa break-in over the weekend.
Zivan Radmanovic, 32, was shot dead shortly after midnight Saturday when two armed men broke into his villa in Munggu, located in the southern region of Indonesia’s premier tourist destination. The shooting occurred in Bali’s Badung district, home to popular beaches including Kuta and Canggu that draw millions of international visitors annually.
Police apprehended one suspect in Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital city, while the second was captured abroad, according to local authorities who declined to provide additional details about the arrests or the suspects’ identities.
The victim’s wife told investigators she was awakened by her husband’s screams before discovering his body in the villa’s bathroom, according to reports from Australian media outlets. The woman was not physically harmed during the attack.
Sanar Ghanim, 34, who was also present at the villa, sustained gunshot wounds and injuries from being beaten during the assault. He remains hospitalized receiving treatment for his injuries. Ghanim’s wife, who witnessed the attackers but escaped injury, provided testimony to police about the incident.
Forensic investigators collected extensive ballistic evidence from the crime scene, including 17 bullet casings, two intact projectiles and 55 bullet fragments. Published images of the villa show multiple bullet holes piercing windows and blood stains scattered across the floor.
Multiple witnesses reported hearing the attackers communicate in English with distinctive Australian accents during the assault. According to witness accounts, one gunman wore an orange jacket paired with a dark helmet, while his accomplice was dressed in a dark green jacket, black face mask and dark helmet.
“I can’t start my bike,” one of the attackers was heard saying before the pair eventually fled the scene on a motor scooter, witnesses told police.
Bali police officials stated they continue investigating the motive behind the shooting but have not disclosed additional details regarding the suspects or circumstances leading to their arrests.
Australian media reports indicate Ghanim previously maintained a relationship with the stepdaughter of Carl Williams, a notorious figure in Melbourne’s criminal underworld who died in 2010. The reports also state Ghanim served prison time following his conviction for a non-fatal shooting incident in Melbourne in 2014.
Victoria Police confirmed their awareness of Saturday’s fatal shooting in Bali and stated their investigators would provide support to Indonesian partner agencies throughout the investigation process.
The violent incident represents an unusual occurrence in Bali, where serious crimes against tourists remain relatively uncommon despite the island’s status as one of Southeast Asia’s most visited destinations. The shooting took place in the heart of Bali’s tourism corridor, raising concerns about visitor safety in areas typically considered secure.
Indonesian authorities have not indicated whether the attack was targeted or random, though the collection of substantial ballistic evidence and swift arrests suggest an ongoing investigation with significant resources dedicated to the case.
The arrests come as Bali continues recovering its tourism industry following pandemic-related disruptions, with international visitor numbers steadily returning to pre-2020 levels across the island’s resort areas and cultural attractions.
BBC.COM
