An Australian man is wanted by Bali authorities following accusations that he vandalized a tattoo studio in Kuta after a mistaken identity incident.
Nizar Simahardy, the owner of Evolve Ink Bali, alleges that the man and an accomplice smashed the studio’s front window and a drink fridge during their visit earlier this month. According to Simahardy, the men were looking for someone else and refused to believe his friends who clarified they had the wrong person.
Later that night, Simahardy claims witnesses saw the man return and throw a brick at the studio’s glass front, causing significant damage. The incident reportedly escalated into a street brawl after the men attempted to escape on a scooter and collided with another person.
Simahardy asserted that he recognized the alleged perpetrators from a previous encounter when he tattooed one of them last year. He also mentioned obtaining a copy of an Australian driver’s license left behind at their hotel.
Local police, confirmed by Kuta police chief Ketut Agus Pasek Sudina, have received a complaint and are actively investigating the incident in coordination with Immigration. Sudina stated, “We are now chasing the perpetrator.”
Regarding claims that the men were seeking owed money, Simahardy denied these allegations, suggesting the intended target might have been the previous owner of the shop before his tenure began in December.