Three Australians Formally Charged with Premeditated Murder in Bali Villa Shooting, Face Death Penalty

Formal Charges Laid in High-Profile Bali Murder Case

Three Australian nationals have been formally charged with premeditated murder in Indonesia, a crime that carries a maximum penalty of death. The charges stem from a fatal shooting at a villa in Bali that resulted in the death of Zivan Radmanovic, 32, and serious injury to Sanar Ghanim, 34, both from Melbourne, Australia. The suspects, identified as Darcy Francesco Jenson, 27, Tupau Pada Midolmore, 26 or 27, and Coskun Mevlut, 22, were transferred to state prosecutors on October 15, marking a significant step towards trial.

Details of the Alleged Crime and Victims

The incident occurred on June 14 at Villa Casa Santisya near Munggu Beach, located in Bali's Badung district. Authorities allege that two gunmen burst into the villa, where Mr. Radmanovic was staying with his wife, Jazmyn Gourdeas, and another couple, celebrating his partner's 30th birthday. At least one individual opened fire, fatally wounding Mr. Radmanovic and seriously injuring Mr. Ghanim. Reports indicate that 17 bullet casings and two intact bullets were recovered from the scene. Mr. Radmanovic's partner reportedly hid under a blanket during the attack.

The Accused and Their Alleged Roles

Indonesian police have outlined the alleged roles of the three Australian men in the shooting:

• Darcy Francesco Jenson, a 27-year-old from Sydney, is accused of being the mastermind behind the crime. He allegedly arranged accommodation, transportation, and purchased a hammer used to break into the victims' villa.
• Tupau Pada Midolmore (also known as Paea-I-Middlemore Tupou), 26 or 27, and Coskun Mevlut (also known as Mevlut Coskun), 22, are accused of carrying out the shooting.

The arrests followed a days-long manhunt. One suspect, Darcy Jenson, was apprehended at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport while attempting to leave Indonesia. The other two, Midolmore and Mevlut, initially fled to Cambodia via Singapore but were denied entry in Cambodia and subsequently deported back to Indonesia after a brief detention in Singapore.

Legal Proceedings and Potential Penalties

The three men face multiple charges, including premeditated murder under Article 340 of Indonesia's criminal code, which carries the maximum penalty of death. They are also accused of attempted premeditated murder against Sanar Ghanim. Lesser charges, such as murder, carry a maximum of 15 years in prison, while torture resulting in death carries a potential seven-year jail term. On October 15, the suspects were formally handed over to the Badung District Prosecutor's Office under tight security, escorted by heavily armed Mobile Brigade (Brimob) officers in armored vehicles. Badung Police Chief M. Arief Batubara confirmed that the case files were complete and legally sufficient for prosecution. The trial is expected to take place at the Denpasar District Court, with prosecutors requesting additional police security due to the high public attention.

Indonesia maintains capital punishment, primarily for grave cases of premeditated murder and drug trafficking, with executions carried out by firing squad. While the new Criminal Code (Law No. 1 of 2023) introduces a 10-year probation period for death sentences that could lead to commutation to life imprisonment, the severity of the current charges means the Australians could still face the ultimate penalty.

The motive behind the shooting remains officially unclear, with Indonesian authorities stating it is still under investigation and denying any links to drug gangs. However, some sources have suggested the incident was an 'organised crime hit related to the illicit drug and tobacco trade,' alleging the trio traveled to Bali 'expressly' to kill Mr. Radmanovic.