BALINEWSID.COM, BADUNG – Allegations that an Algerian national identified by the initials MBC was assaulted while in police custody have emerged following his arrest in connection with an alleged theft case in Bali. However, police have firmly denied the accusations, maintaining that the suspect’s medical condition was not caused by physical violence.

MBC’s lawyer, Florentina, also known as Laura, raised the allegations after accompanying her client for a medical examination at Murni Teguh Hospital, located next to the Kuta Police Station, on Friday (July 3, 2026).

According to Florentina, the claims are based solely on her client’s testimony and have not yet been supported by conclusive evidence.

“Our allegations are based on what our client told us. He claimed he was beaten by around 10 police officers because he refused to admit to the theft and would not reveal where he was staying,” Florentina told reporters.

She further said MBC alleged that, in addition to being physically assaulted, a firearm was pointed at his genitals during questioning.

Despite the serious nature of the allegations, Florentina emphasized that her legal team is approaching the matter cautiously.

“Our client says he knows who was involved, but we do not want to speculate until everything can be verified,” she said.

Florentina explained that an initial medical examination revealed MBC has a shrunken testicle. However, she acknowledged that her client had suffered a previous injury to the same area in 2019 following an unrelated assault.

According to the lawyer, MBC had not experienced pain for several years. However, after his arrest on June 6, the pain reportedly returned and became significantly worse over the past 10 days.

Doctors prescribed antibiotics and pain medication and recommended a seven-day observation period before conducting further examinations if symptoms persist.

The follow-up examination is being handled by a urology specialist. As of Friday, doctors had not found evidence of internal bleeding or serious injuries, with further medical observation still ongoing.

Beyond the alleged assault, Florentina expressed concern over the psychological condition of MBC’s family.

She said MBC’s wife, who is also a suspect in the same theft case, has reportedly suffered severe depression and allegedly attempted to harm herself by cutting her wrist with a safety pin while in detention.

“Mentally, she is under tremendous pressure. She allegedly attempted to injure herself because of the stress caused by this legal process,” Florentina said.

The couple has a one-year-old child. The mother and child are currently staying at Kerobokan Women’s Correctional Facility, while MBC is being detained separately.

According to the lawyer, the child is only accompanying the mother because of the child’s young age and has no involvement whatsoever in the criminal proceedings.

Florentina also stated that the child has a documented history of heart disease and that both parents’ mental health has continued to deteriorate during the legal process.

She added that the family recently received tragic news from Algeria, where the father of MBC’s wife passed away after a prolonged illness.

According to Florentina, relatives had requested that the detained suspect be allowed to communicate with her father before his death. However, based on information received by the legal team, that request was not granted.

“We have been informed that our client’s father-in-law has passed away in Algeria. We have not yet informed his daughter because we are concerned it could further worsen her mental condition,” she said.

In the underlying criminal case, MBC and his wife are accused of stealing Adidas merchandise from two separate locations in Kuta.

The first incident allegedly occurred at Beachwalk Shopping Center, where six items of clothing and three caps were reportedly taken. The second incident allegedly took place at MBG, involving three clothing items and two caps.

Florentina said the investigation appears to rely primarily on CCTV footage. However, she noted that the defense has not yet received the complete investigation dossier, including the official police interrogation reports, preventing them from fully reviewing the prosecution’s evidence.

“Our male client admits taking the items, while his wife denies the allegation. We are still waiting for the complete investigation documents before assessing the case in its entirety,” she said.

Responding to the allegations, Kuta Police Chief Commissioner Laksmi Trisnadewi Wieryawan said her office is finalizing a comprehensive report regarding MBC’s medical examination.

She stated that an official explanation will be released through the Public Relations Section of the Badung Police to ensure all media outlets receive the same information.

“I am currently preparing the complete report on the medical examination. The official statement will be released through the Public Relations Office so it can be distributed simultaneously to all media,” she wrote in a text message.

The police chief also categorically denied that MBC had been subjected to physical abuse while in custody.

“The suspect’s medical condition is not the result of physical violence. From the beginning, he was cooperative during the arrest and subsequent legal process,” she said.

At present, the assault allegations remain unverified and are based solely on statements made by MBC through his legal counsel. No official investigation or medical findings have concluded that physical abuse occurred, while police continue to deny any violence during the arrest or detention process.