An Aussie man involved in a carpark brawl outside a popular beach club while holidaying in Bali will be freed from jail within days.
Mohamed Rifai, 27, from south-west Sydney, was sentenced to four months minus time served on Thursday after being found guilty of assault.
Rifai was arrested in February following a wild brawl outside Finns Beach Club in North Kuta involving up to 15 security staff and four other Australian tourists.
He will walk free in mid-June once he has completed his four month term in Bali’s notorious Kerobokan prison.
‘The panel of judges has found the defendant Mohamed Rifai guilty of assault and in violation of article 351 subsection one of the Indonesian Criminal Code and sentence the defendant to four months prison minus the time he has already served,’ Denpasar District Court judge Anak Agung Made Aripathi said.
Rifai accepted the verdict and decided not to appeal.
His lawyer Sabam Antonius welcomed the sentence, which was a month shorter than the five month jail term recommended by the prosecutor.
‘We accept this sentence, this is best sentence. That’s why we decided to accept the sentence,’ Mr Antonius said.
Mohamed Rifai is pictured arriving at Denpasar District Court on Thursday where was sentenced to four months in prison with time served
Rifai will be allowed to walk free in mid-June after four months in prison
Pictured is an outtake from the violent brawl outside Finn’s Beach Club in North Kuta in February that went viral and involved up to 15 security staff and four other Australians
Last week in court, Rifai claimed he acted in self defence while he was allegedly attacked by the security guards after they escorted his friend John Ebid from the club.
The panel of judges on Thursday concluded there was no justification for Rifai’s actions, the Herald Sun reported.
The prosecutor said the injuries inflicted on the victim, bouncer Made Bagus Yohanandita, added to the seriousness of the offending.
He also considered several mitigating factors, including Rifai’s polite nature during the trial, admission of guilt, displays of remorse, and the ‘peace agreement’ between himself and security guards involved in the brawl.
Rifai hugged his father after learning his fate. He didn’t comment on the verdict while leaving court.
Rifai appeared in the same court on Tuesday, where he delivered an impassioned plea for leniency.
‘I am very, very sorry for my actions that night,’ he said.
‘I am not a rough person. I have a family that I should protect in Australia.
‘I beg you to give me the possible lightest sentence.’
