DENPASAR, BALINEWS.ID – After months of legal uncertainty at the police level, the alleged assault case involving a New Zealand national, Andrew Joseph McLean, has finally been resolved by the Denpasar District Court.

The ruling marks the conclusion of the criminal proceedings that had previously stalled the immigration process concerning the foreign national.

A minor offense trial (tipiring) was held on Tuesday (January 28, 2026), presided over by Judge Anak Agung Putu Putra Ariyana. In its verdict, the court found Andrew guilty of assault against his former partner, an Indonesian woman identified by the initials NLS. However, the sentence imposed was relatively light, 20 days of imprisonment with a two-month probation period.

Under the ruling, Andrew is not required to serve the jail term unless he commits another criminal offense during the probation period. Should that occur, the suspended sentence will be enforced.

Quoted by Hey Bali, Andrew’s legal counsel, Max Widi, described the verdict as the final legal hurdle in his client’s case. “Legally, the criminal matter has been concluded. With this decision, there is no longer any basis to delay the deportation process,” Max said.

He added that the deportation postponement letter previously issued by the police automatically lost its legal standing following the court’s decision. “That letter is no longer valid. The case now fully falls under the authority of immigration officials,” he explained.

During the trial, a number of facts emerged regarding the personal relationship between Andrew and NLS. The alleged incident was reported to have occurred on August 5, 2025, at Villa Jeruk, where the couple had been living together. However, witness testimony revealed that the two met again the following day.

Court proceedings also disclosed that the complainant had accompanied Andrew to the airport on August 6, 2025. This fact became one of the key considerations highlighted during the evidentiary process.

Andrew denied physically assaulting the complainant. He told the court that the incident stemmed from an argument fueled by jealousy and suspicion of infidelity, which escalated into a struggle over a mobile phone. According to Andrew, the situation was interpreted differently by the complainant.

He also acknowledged that his emotional state at the time was unstable due to not taking his prescribed bipolar medication. Andrew stated that his dosage had recently been increased and that he had not yet continued the medication on the day of the incident.

Before the panel of judges, Andrew expressed remorse and offered a public apology. However, the complainant rejected any attempt at reconciliation.

According to Hey Bali, the hearing unfolded in an emotionally charged atmosphere. As the complainant exited the courtroom, Andrew was heard loudly shouting “sorry.” Meanwhile, the complainant’s mother testified that she heard her daughter screaming for help on the night of the alleged incident.

Medical examination results presented in court showed no physical injuries, and no specific medical treatment was administered. Despite this, the complainant claimed she required approximately two months to recover.

The court’s decision not to order detention reflects the judges’ assessment that while the criminal elements were legally established, the case fell within the scope of a personal relationship dispute and constituted a minor offense. Nonetheless, the guilty verdict remains legally binding.

With the ruling now in place, the case, previously under public scrutiny due to its prolonged legal process—has reached legal certainty. At the same time, it has reignited broader discussions on how personal relationship disputes, mental health considerations, and lengthy legal procedures are handled in cases involving foreign nationals in Indonesia. (*)