
Australian hitmen sentenced to 16 years for murder in Bali
Australian hitmen sentenced to 16 years for murder in Bali
- In June 2025, three men were convicted for the murder of fellow Australian Zivan Radmanovic in Bali.
- The court sentenced Mevlut Coskun and Paea I Middlemore Tupou to 16 years each for premeditated murder.
- The incident highlights gun crime in Bali, raising concerns about safety in the tourist destination.
Story
In June 2025, on the Indonesian resort island of Bali, three Australian men were sentenced for the murder of Zivan Radmanovic. The court found Mevlut Coskun, 23, and Paea I Middlemore Tupou, 27, guilty of premeditated murder, having shot Radmanovic during an altercation related to a debt dispute. This tragic incident became known as one of the very few violent crimes involving firearms on Bali, where strict gun laws are in effect. A third man, Darcy Jenson, 27, was convicted for organizing the attack and received a 12-year prison term. The shooting took place at a private villa in Badung where Radmanovic and his family were staying to celebrate his wife's birthday. During the altercation, another individual, Sanar Ghanim, was injured but survived. The defendants claimed that they were hired to intimidate Ghanim in an effort to retrieve money he owed to an unidentified client. Despite the violent outcome, the men insisted the shooting wasn’t premeditated. After their capture, Coskun and Tupou attempted to escape to Cambodia, while Jenson was apprehended attempting to flee at an airport. The prosecution originally sought lengthier sentences but the court ultimately determined their youth and lack of prior criminal records merited consideration in sentencing. The judge emphasized that their punishment aimed to serve as a preventive measure for similar incidents in the future, reflecting on the deep trauma inflicted on the victims' families. Gun crime remains a rare occurrence on Bali, with the archipelago's stringent laws aimed at curbing illegal firearm possession. This incident, however, has drawn significant media attention and opened discussions about the emerging violent crime trends among tourists in the area. The unusual circumstances leading to the killings and the legal ramifications have heightened public awareness and concern regarding safety in this popular tourist locale.