BADUNG, Bali – A Spanish national nearly burned alive after an unknown person allegedly set fire to the villa he was staying in on Jalan Tibu Beneng, North Kuta, Badung, in the early hours of Friday (Aug. 22, 2025).

The victim, identified as GA, 59, managed to save himself by quickly extinguishing the flames that had already engulfed the villa’s thatched roof. “If he had been just a little late, the whole villa could have been destroyed and the fire could have spread to others nearby,” a source told Radar Bali.

The incident was captured on CCTV, showing the movements of a suspected perpetrator. GA later filed an official report with the Badung Police under registration number SPM/430/VIII/2025/SPKT/Polres Badung/Polda Bali on Sunday (Aug. 24) around 11:30 a.m.

Badung Police Chief AKBP M. Arif Batubara confirmed the report. “Yes, the victim has filed a report. We are still conducting further investigation,” he said on Sunday (Aug. 31).

Although GA said he had no disputes with anyone during his stay in Bali, he expressed suspicion toward a transgender individual identified as April JA, also known as Laura, whom he met through a massage therapy app a year ago. Prior to the fire, the individual allegedly attempted to force entry into the villa but was stopped by the victim.

Moments after the door was shut, CCTV recorded flames emerging from the roof. The fire was contained before consuming the entire building. Police said the case is being treated as suspected arson. “From the CCTV footage, the perpetrator is believed to have set the roof ablaze using a gas lighter,” another source noted.