DENPASAR, Bali – Two Middle Eastern tourists believed they were meeting women after connecting through Tinder, but prosecutors told a Bali court the encounter ended in an alleged violent robbery at a villa in Seminyak.

The trial of Gerald Dumatubun, also known as Gladys, 19, and Muhamad Darlan, 25, opened at the Denpasar District Court on Friday (July 17).

According to the indictment, one of the tourists, Almuqbil Omar Abdulaziz M, met Gerald through Tinder before inviting the defendant to Villa Aora Dua by Elsewhere, where he was staying with fellow Middle Eastern national Mohamad Aboallh M Alamro.

After arriving at the villa, Almuqbil asked Gerald to invite another companion for his friend. Gerald then contacted Darlan, who later joined them.

The court heard the tourists initially believed the pair were women. After realizing otherwise, they decided not to take them to a party and instead asked both defendants to leave.

Prosecutors allege the defendants became upset after receiving no payment. They allegedly contacted I Gusti Ngurah Agung Bayu Prayoga, Ratna Yulianti, and two other people who remain on the police wanted list before returning to the villa.

The group allegedly forced its way inside and demanded money from the tourists.

When the victims refused, prosecutors said Bayu struck Alamro several times with the blunt side of a machete, hitting his knees, left arm, wrist, and chest.

Medical evidence presented in court showed Alamro suffered multiple bruises and abrasions consistent with blunt-force trauma.

The indictment says the group then stole cash, passports, electronics, watches, and other valuables before leaving the villa.

Almuqbil allegedly lost a Rolex watch, AirPods, a power bank, clothing, his passport, and Rp30 million in cash.

Alamro’s belongings included two iPhones, a Rolex watch, a Lenovo laptop, his passport, and five bottles of perfume.

Prosecutors said the stolen items were later taken to Ratna Yulianti’s house.

The prosecution estimates Alamro’s losses at about Rp144 million, while Almuqbil lost approximately Rp180 million.

Both defendants were charged under alternative counts in Indonesia’s new Criminal Code. The primary charge relates to violent theft committed jointly at night, while the alternative charge concerns aggravated theft committed by multiple offenders.

The court adjourned the case and will hear witness testimony at the next hearing.