Bali Police from the Badung Police Precinct are discounting widely circulating suspicions that the recent murderous attack of an Australian at Villa Casa Santisya in Desa Munggu, Mengwi, is somehow connected to an international drug syndicate.
NusaBali.com quotes the Chief of the Badung Police Precinct, AKBP M Arif Batubara, as saying police investigations of the Australian’s death are focused on the incident as pure homicide rather than narcotics.
“I cannot confirm the statement made by the Head of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) because our investigations are being conducted differently. They handle narcotics aspects, while we focus on general criminal acts,” said Officer Arif, on Monday, 21 July 2025.
Arif’s statement was in response to comments made by the Head of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), Police Commissioner General Marthinus Hukom, who previously suggested links between the Australian’s murder and the activities of an international drug cartel.
At the recent inauguration of the Bersinar (Drug-Free Village) in Kelan, Badung, Bali, Marthinus alleged that Bali is susceptible to being used as a “killing ground” by foreign drug syndicates to resolve their internal conflicts.
“This phenomenon of crimes committed by foreigners cannot be viewed simply as ordinary crime, but must be examined from various aspects, including the possible involvement of drug networks,” Marthinus said at the opening ceremony for the Drug-Free Village.
However, the Badung Police have yet to discover proof that the three perpetrators—also foreigners—were hired killers who had planned the attack before entering Bali.
“We haven’t reached a very advanced, in-depth investigation stage. We are currently examining travel routes, activities after arriving in Bali, and the actual chronology of events,” explained Police Chief Arif.
The motive behind the shooting is still under investigation. Police have yet to officially reveal the motive behind the armed attack, which killed one victim and injured another.
The shooting occurred early Saturday, 14 June 2025, at the Casa Santisya 1 Villa in Munggu Village. Two Australian citizens were shot: Zivan Radmanovic, who died at the scene, and Sanar Ghanim, who suffered gunshot wounds.
The incident was witnessed by the two women partners of the victim.
The police have named three suspects: Tupou Pasa Midolmore (27), Coskunmevlut (23), and Darcy Francesco Jenson (37). All three have been arrested and charged with murder and motor vehicle embezzlement.
Intense investigations by police, both in Indonesia and Australia, continue.
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