Drinking and Late Night Motorbike Ride Preceded Sexual Attack om Swedish Tourist.

A 19 year-old Swedish woman has told police that she was raped on Thursday, October 29, 2009, by a motorcycle jockey (Ojek) on a side street of Kuta.

The young woman who presented at a local police in an intoxicated state smelling of alcohol, has thwarted police in their efforts to investigate the case by refusing a police interview.

Bali’s Chief of Police, General Sutisna told Kompas.com, “Although the victim refuses to be interviewed, the police continue to investigate by collecting information from various sources around Kuta.”

Based on the Swedish girl’s initial report, police are making every effort to catch the rapist. Said Sutisna: “We’re still looking for the culprit. Pray that we can catch him quick, especially because this involves a foreign visitor.”

Police are waiting for the results of a forensic examination carried out at Bali’s Sanglah General Hospital.

According to police, the woman was attacked after attending a late night drinking party by a man she had paid to bring her back to her lodgings on a motorbike.

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A wave of snatch and run robberies targeted on people who have just taken large sums of cash from a bank, have prompted the Bali police to call on the public to be extremely careful when carrying large sums of money, taking precautionary steps to prevent future robberies.

The modus operandi of those preying on bank and money changer customers entails observing customers withdrawing large sums and then following them to a location where the tires of the victim’s vehicle can be punctured, setting the stage for the thieves to snatch the money.

We hope the following information, gathered from police sources, is of use.

Modus Operandi of Tire Puncture Gangs

• The robbers typically work as a pair, traveling on a motorcycle.

• One of the group will observe customers at local banks or money changers in order to identify a potential victim.

• The robbers use special hollow nails to puncture tires.

• They typically plant their nail at a traffic light.

• Using a rubber sandal to camouflage the nail, the sandal is typically laid in front of one of the rear tires of the victim’s vehicle.

• There appears to be a preference for puncturing the rear left tire, perhaps because this is less easily observed by the driver.

• Victims who place large amounts of money from the bank in a handbag appear to be preferred targets.

Preventative Steps You Can Take

Here’s a brief list of steps you can take to protect yourself:

• Whenever possible, make payments of large amounts by crossed check or bank transfer.

• Ask the police or a security guard (SATPAM) to accompany you when carrying large sums of money.

• Pay attention to pedestrians or motorcyclists who approach the left back corner of your vehicle at a stop light.

• If your tire suddenly does go flat, stop at a busy area or pull in to the parking area of a local company. Yes, if needed, you can drive on the rim for several kilometers.

• If you get out of your car to change the tire, lock the doors and weigh whether it is better to bring the money with you.

• Always be aware of the situation surrounding you and don’t hesitate to ask assistance from local people.

• In Indonesian the word to scream for “thief” when raising an alarm is “maling” (pronounced : mall – ing).By bali Update (www.balidiscovery.com)

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UBUD – The Ubud Hotels Association (UHA) is promoting Ubud as a green destination with a series of charitable and environmental activities, as well as hosting a seminar. The UHA is a non-profit; non-government organization comprised primarily of hoteliers and allied members who actively service the hospitality industry.

Ramia Adnyana, Chairman of the UHA, says: “Ubud is surrounded by most of the things that bring people to Bali - scenic rice fields, small villages, art and craft communities, ancient temples, palaces, rivers, museums, and a traditional market. These are all key attractions that must be well maintained and preserved. Our endeavor is to highlight Ubud not only as a cultural destination but also as a green destination that will become an exemplar. To realize this, we regularly undertake community-led environmental campaigns, such as Clean up the World, tree planting and school mentoring. We are also encouraging and supporting members to take action at a local level to help address environmental issues. Our programmed is expected to bring together many tourism industries, hamlets, schools, visitors and local citizens in order to collect as much rubbish as possible from within their own communities and reconsider their waste management on the Island of the Gods. Similarly, as part of our corporate social responsibility to Ubud, we frequently make visits to orphanages, and organize seminars.”

Ramia Adnyana summarizes: “I believe that Ubud can become a quality destination that will benefit all layers of the community by remaining true to the eco-friendly concept known as Tri Hita Karana, the Balinese Philosophy of life, which advocates that we should all live in balance and harmony with God, other human beings, and the environment.”

In line with this concept, the UHA will be supporting humanitarian, religious and environmental causes. On 28th August the UHA visited the humanitarian charity known as Yayasan Senyum, the Smile Foundation of Bali, which helps people with crania-facial disabilities by facilitating operations for cleft lips and palates. On 1st September the UHA visited the temple of Pura Gunung Rawung at the village of Taro, to pray and to plant 300 white cempaka trees. Often planted near Hindu temples, the fragrant cempaka flower is used in offerings to the gods.

On 4th September, the UHA promoted the spirit of ecological responsibility in Ubud by participating once again in the annual ‘Clean Up the World Weekend’. Finally, on 8th September, the UHA hosted a seminar with key speakers Rhenald Kasali and Anand Krishna, as well as a prominent representative from Key Airlines partner. The seminar will be held at the Convention House at Royal Pita Maha Resort. (BTN/*)

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