Aussie tradie detained in Indonesia shares emotional reunion with family after returning home
- Indonesia deported Bodhi Risby-Jones
- He reportedly went on a drunken and naked rampage
- Apologized and paid $25,000 to fishermen he injured
An Australian tradie who allegedly went naked in Indonesia has shared an emotional reunion with family after spending more than a month behind bars.
Bodhi Mani Risby-Jones, 23, was arrested on April 27 and charged by police with assaulting a drunk and naked fisherman in the highly conservative Muslim province of Aceh, where alcohol is banned.
Mr Risby-Jone was deported back home to Queensland and landed at Sunshine Coast Airport on Sunday afternoon after a connecting flight from Melbourne.
Australian tradie Bodhi Mani Risby-Jones, 23, (pictured) hugged his mother after spending more than a month behind bars in Indonesia for an alleged drunk and naked rampage
Mr Risby-Jones apologized and paid $25,000 in damages to the fisherman, allowing him to avoid trial and face a possible assault charge for which he could have faced up to five years in prison
He was greeted by his mother at Melbourne Airport and the two shared an emotional hug, according to Nine News.
‘Unreal,’ said Mr Risby-Jones before his mother replied, ‘I’m so glad you’re safe.’
“It’s been a long time and I feel great and super happy and grateful,” Mr Risby-Jones told reporters.
“I am very relieved and happy. I fooled myself and it was shown publicly all over the world.”
Risby-Jones was released from an Indonesian prison on Tuesday and then spent three nights in an immigrant detention center before returning home.
He was seen smiling at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and even gave a thumbs up as immigration escorted him to his flight.
“Of course I’m quite emotional so I’m going to feel bad about it,” Mr Risby-Jones said.
Fisherman Edi Ron suffered serious leg injuries including a broken ankle and 50 stitches as a result of Mr Risby-Jones’ actions.
The fisherman underwent surgery in the provincial capital of Banda Aceh on his broken bones and an infection in his leg.
According to his lawyer, RisbyJones has vowed to return to Indonesia to surf more
Mr Risby-Jones said he had apologized and paid compensation to the fisherman who allowed it him to avoid going to court and facing a possible assault charge that could have landed him up to five years in prison.
Mr Risby-Jones added that the fisherman’s relatives forgave him and told him he was now part of their family.
“I’m welcome to come back and even stay in their house whenever I want,” he said.
“So that guilt is definitely much smaller than it originally was.”
His lawyer Idris Marbawi said the two sides agreed that Risby-Jones would pay the fisherman’s family for hospital expenses and a traditional peace ceremony.
“Risby-Jones is the first foreigner to successfully resolve a case through restorative justice in Aceh province,” Marbawi said.
“He deeply regretted what had happened and vowed to return to Indonesia to surf.”
He was reportedly initially asked to pay more than $60,000 in damages, but reached a $25,000 settlement with the fisherman on May 26.