The owner of a tattoo studio in Bali has accused an Australian and another man of trashing his shop over a cash debt they claimed they were owed.
Nizar Simahardy owns Evolve Ink Studio in Denpasar, the Indonesian holiday island’s capital, and complained to police about the alleged incident earlier this month.
He alleged an Australian man named David and another man known as ‘Mike’ entered his shop about 6.30pm on June 2 demanding money.
When Mr Simahardy’s staff refused the request, the pair allegedly smashed a glass fridge inside the studio with a chair and then later that night returned and threw a rock at the shop’s glass front wall, causing a large crack.
The alleged act then sparked a street brawl as vigilantes nearby tried to detain the two men.
Mr Simahardy said he knew nothing of the debt the men claimed they were owed because he only took over the lease of the tattoo studio about six months ago.
‘It’s not true. I don’t owe money to him,’ he told Daily Mail Australia this week.
‘Apparently he said the owner of the tattoo studio owed money. I bought it in December, so maybe it is the ex-owner who owes money to him.’
Nizar Simahardy (pictured) outside his tattoo shop, Evolve Ink Studio in Bali’s capital Denpasar, where he has put up a poster of the driver’s licence of the man he claims smashed his window
After a rock was thrown at the tattoo shop’s window on June 2, a brawl broke out in the street
Kuta police chief Ketut Agus Pasek Sudina confirmed local police had received a complaint about the alleged incident and were investigating.
‘We are now chasing the perpetrator. We have also coordinated with Immigration,’ Mr Sudina said.
When asked if the accused Australian man had left Bali, Mr Sudina said he was not certain.
Mr Simahardy said on the evening of June 2 he had left the shop about 6.20pm despite it being busy.
‘I left early as it was my child’s birthday. I needed to go buy a birthday cake,’ he said.
‘The studio was full of clients. The two men arrived about 10 minutes later, at 6.30pm.
‘One of my friends Tia called me from the studio and said that David was there and was saying we owed him money.’
Mr Simahardy explained he and Tia both knew the man because he was a client at this tattoo studio and a previous one they ran in a nearby location.
He said Tia told David the studio had changed ownership recently but he appeared not to believe her and became angry, before leaving several minutes later.
‘I heard all the conversation through the phone and how David was angry to my staff,’ Mr Simahardy said.
‘I told them to be careful, and call people outside if they come again.
‘Several minutes after that, David returned and kept saying, “I want my money”, then he took a chair, and hit the chiller with the chair, damaging it.
‘My friend called me again and I told her to take photo. But she only took a photo of the chiller, not David, because I think she was in shock.’
Staff at the tattoo studio (pictured) said the men smashed a glass fridge with a chair
He said it was then about 7pm when David and the other man left the studio and he directed his staff to close up shop and go home.
‘I decided to continue with my plan for my child’s birthday and not go into the studio but told them to close because I was worried he would come back.’
Later that night, however, a rock was thrown at the glass shopfront of the studio about 10pm causing a large crack.
‘Fortunately, there [was] no one inside the studio,’ Mr Simahardy said.
Staff from the neighbouring art shop told him the next day two ‘foreigners’ had been seen throwing a rock at the window, which caused an altercation with bystanders.
The staff told him when the pair tried to flee on a motorbike they collided with another foreigner, which then sparked an all-out street brawl.
The two were eventually helped away by locals who diffused the brawl.
Mr Simahardy said the damage to his shop and closing it on a busy night had cost him more than 10 million Indonesian Rupiah (about $1,000 AUD) and he wants an apology to his shocked staff.
Mr Simahardy said his staff, which includes a number of women (left), were shocked and scared by the incident
He has put up a poster with David’s driver licence, which he had on file from when he was a client.
It is understood the address on the licence is his mother’s house in Australia where he has not resided for a number years.
‘I think David is still here in Bali. My friend told me that he [may be in the] Uluwatu area,’ he said.
‘I only hope he could pay for the damage and be responsible for what he has [allegedly] done.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted David for comment.
