Bodhi Mani Risby-Jones: Goat slaughter twist in case of Aussie accused of drunken Indonesian rampage

An Indonesian resort town will have to slaughter a goat to restore peace after an Australian man reportedly committed a drunken assault and injured a motorcyclist.

Bodhi Mani Risby-Jones, 23, from Noosa in Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, was arrested Thursday at Lantik Moon Beach Resort on Simeulue Island.

Police claim the carpenter assaulted a security guard and a motorcyclist and could face 40 lashes and several years behind bars.

Suhardi Fleno, the head of Lantik village where the incident took place, said the resort where Risby-Jones was staying must slaughter a goat according to traditional Aceh customs.

“It’s called peusijuek, which means we have to be at peace with the party we have a problem with to avoid repeating the same problem,” he said.

The Queenslander’s sentence may also be reduced or the case dropped altogether if he manages to reach a financial settlement with the motorcyclist.

Risby-Jones allegedly knocked the man off his motorcycle, leaving him with a broken leg and a deep wound that required 50 stitches.

“If the victim decides not to pursue the case, we will drop the case,” an investigator told police The Sydney Morning Herald.

Mr Fleno said he had asked motorcyclist Edi Ron if he would accept a financial settlement, but the fisherman did not answer as he was focused on recovery first.

Ron was transferred to a larger hospital in the provincial capital of Banda Aceh and his wife has said he will not be able to walk for three months.

“The wound is very bad. The bike was thrown on top of him and his right ankle,” Mr Fleno said.

Over the weekend, Risby-Jones begged forgiveness for what happened.

His father Ben said on Saturday that his son was “deeply ashamed of the trauma and continued suffering he has inflicted on his family” and apologized.

He said his son wanted to “apologise” to all the people he had “disrespected and hurt.”

told Ben The courier mail his son is sorry, apologizes and “acknowledges the pain he caused Mr. Ron.”

“He further acknowledges the waste of resources his actions have caused the Simeulue Police Department,” the father said.

He said his son is distressed by his actions and takes full responsibility.

“He also wants to apologize to the Australian people for embarrassing them and is deeply ashamed of the trauma and continued suffering he has inflicted on his family,” Ben said.

Risby-Jones previously broke his silence on the matter by saying he was not feeling himself during the alleged incident.

“Like I was almost possessed, it wasn’t a good feeling,” he said. “I wasn’t myself, normally I’m a really nice guy.”

Police allege that Risby-Jones left his hotel room naked and drunk on vodka before assaulting a security guard and then the motorcyclist.

The Queenslander denied being drunk, claiming he had only had one shot of vodka aggravated by sunstroke he suffered while surfing.

“We were at the pool and had a duty-free bottle of vodka. I only had one shot, only one shot,” he told the ABC.

He also claimed that he was not naked, but was wearing underwear.

Police claim he fled to the beach when a mob of local residents formed to apprehend him before he was attacked and a civilian arrest was made.

“I’ve been hit on the ground a lot, people have kicked my head, which makes me forget,” said Risby-Jones.

According to Simeulue Police Chief Detective Mayyuhdi, Risby-Jones went on a surfing trip because “he was depressed.”

“According to people present at the scene, Bodhi went out of his room completely naked and screaming,” he said.

“The people there tried to stop him, but Bodhi hit one of them instead.”

Simeulue Island is a surfing hotspot in Aceh, the only Indonesian province under strict Sharia law.

Risby-Jones faces two and a half years in prison if the motorcyclist’s injuries are considered minor, or five years if they are considered serious.

He could also be tried under Sharia law on charges of drinking alcohol, which is illegal for Muslims and non-Muslims in the province, in which case he will receive 40 lashes.

Police may hold Risby-Jones in custody for 20 days during the investigation.

Queensland Government Minister Leeanne Enoch said the Australian Consulate was providing assistance to Risby-Jones and his family.

“The point now is for foreign affairs to be able to work closely with that gentleman and his family.”