DENPASAR, BALI – A French tourist steals motorbike in Bali and now faces an 8-month prison sentence, after he was found guilty of taking a fellow guest’s scooter from the basement of Bali Kuta Resort in Kuta. The suspect, 37-year-old Sammy Kevin Bensaid Usage, claimed he needed the vehicle to visit his child in Lombok.

Prosecutor Ida Bagus Eka Putra Wesnawa urged the Denpasar District Court to convict the defendant under Article 362 of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) for theft. The trial was presided over by Judge Heriyati on Thursday, June 19, 2025.

The prosecution cited that Sammy’s actions caused financial loss to the victim and disturbed public order. However, his polite and cooperative behavior during the legal process was noted as a mitigating factor.

The theft occurred on the morning of March 20, 2025. Sammy, who was staying at the hotel, went to the lobby for breakfast. A receptionist showed him a motorbike key that had been found. He denied it was his and returned to his room.

Later that night, Sammy returned to the lobby and asked about the key again. Trusting his claim, the receptionist handed it over.

At around 8:00 p.m., Sammy went to the basement and searched for the bike matching the key. He found a grey Yamaha Lexi with license plate DK 2212 FDK and drove off. The bike belonged to another foreign guest, Jonathan David Lucas.

An hour later, he was spotted in North Denpasar, allegedly trying to switch the vehicle. Sammy later told authorities he intended to travel to Lombok to visit his child.

The court is expected to deliver its verdict soon.