Australian Drew Donal Ireland is accused in Bali of beating his girlfriend and storing weapons
The 28-year-old Australian is put on a frog march in orange overalls by Bali police after being accused of beating his girlfriend – and a stash of guns allegedly found in his hotel room
- Perth man Drew Donal Ireland was arrested in Bali
- He allegedly attacked his Indonesian girlfriend
- The police would have found weapons in his hotel room
An Australian man allegedly caught with a stash of guns after being accused of beating his girlfriend in Bali faces several years in prison in Indonesia.
Drew Donal Ireland, 28, from Perth, was led to a press conference in handcuffs on Tuesday after his arrest near the Kedin’s Inn in Kuta on Sunday.
Police allege Ireland pushed his 33-year-old Indonesian girlfriend to the ground and hit her head at around 6.30pm during a dispute over 1,500,000 rupiah ($150 AUD) she supposedly owed him.
The woman also allegedly suffered other minor injuries to her face and body The Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Perth man Drew Donal Ireland (above) could face up to two years and eight months in prison after allegedly hitting his Indonesian girlfriend on the head
Officers claim Ireland was trying to flee arrest when he was confronted outside the hotel, but he only made it 500 meters before being caught.
Ireland was reportedly agitated and violently resisted arrest once back at the police station, with chairs and a table damaged in the fight.
After the dramatic arrest, officers searched Ireland’s hotel room and reportedly found a collection of weapons, including three long-barreled air rifles, two air pistols, two knives and two iron batons.
While it is not illegal to own the air guns and other weapons, officers said they are still investigating why Ireland owned them.
Denpasar police chief Bambang Yugo Pamungkas said investigators also found that Ireland allegedly told his girlfriend that he was part of the Australian Defense Force, which is false.
Bali police said they searched Ireland’s room after his arrest on Sunday and reportedly discovered a stash of air guns and knives (pictured, Ireland being led to a press conference on Tuesday)
“He claimed to be a member of the Australian special forces, that he trains an Indonesian sniper team here,” Pamungkas told reporters on Tuesday.
“He met the (alleged) victim on Tinder five weeks ago. Their status is that they are in a relationship. When we contacted the (Australian) consulate, we got the information that he is a technician, in the private sector.
“He pretended to be in the special forces, but he wasn’t. We still don’t know why he has all those guns.’
Kuta police chief Yogie Pramagita said the 33-year-old woman claimed he was drinking the night she was allegedly attacked.
‘He was drunk so when we tried to detain him at the police station he and some of the police refused (chairs and table were damaged). No officers were injured,” Pramagita claimed.
Kuta police chief Yogie Pramagita said the 33-year-old woman claimed Ireland (pictured in handcuffs) was drinking the night she was allegedly assaulted
“He has refused to be questioned. He insisted that someone from the consulate be there first.’
Ireland has been charged under Section 351 of Indonesia’s Penal Code and faces a maximum prison sentence of two years and eight months.
An Indonesian immigration official said Ireland’s Indonesian visa will expire on June 11 after his arrival in April.