Indonesia: Australian Surfer faces Possible flogging, Jail

An Australian man arrested in a conservative area of Indonesia over an alleged violent rampage faces the possibility of prison time and a public flogging, authorities have said.

Bodhi Mani Risby-Jones, 23, from Noosa in southern Queensland, was arrested after allegedly attacking and injuring a local fisherman while drunk.

Wearing an orange prison suit, handcuffs and a black balaclava, Risby-Jones was on Friday escorted to a press conference where he kept his head down while police officials outlined the allegations against him.

He had been staying at a local resort while on a surfing trip to the island of Simeulue on April 27, when he went “berserk” and hit a resort guard before chasing and striking residents of a nearby village, the officials said.

“According to people present at the scene, (he) went out of his room completely naked, yelling and causing a ruckus,” said Simeulue Police Chief AKBP Jatmiko.

Jatmiko told the press conference that Risby-Jones had gone on to attack a local fisherman who fell off his motorcycle and sustained “a serious foot injury that required 50 stitches.”

“Risby-Jones will now be subject to Article 351 paragraphs 1 and 2 of the law… which carries a maximum imprisonment of five years,” Jatmiko added.

CNN/Shakirat Sadiq