Bali is facing a big problem with tourists who are asking for money on the streets and sometimes stealing. The government is trying to stop this. Some tourists come to Bali just to ask for money from people or other tourists so they can travel to other countries. This phenomenon is next to be called ‘Begpacking.’
There are also tourists who steal and ask for money, saying they don’t have enough to go back to their own country. In Bali news today, a family from Jordan was caught for street begging to a lot of people and other tourists are upset about it.
Bali News Today: Civil Service Police Unit Caught the Jordanian Family Street Begging in Kuta
Recently, the Civil Service Police Unit in Badung took into custody a Jordanian family who were engaged in street begging outside Discovery Mall in Badung, Bali. The family consisted of a husband, wife, and their toddler child, who were apprehended on the 23rd of October, 2023.
This family was soliciting money from all passersby, be they local or foreign visitors. Their actions had previously caused distress among the Balinese community, especially those residing in Kuta, Legian, and Seminyak.
A post on Instagram, shared by @denpasar.viral, exposed this Jordanian family asking for money from shop owners and strangers. Regrettably, this was not their first time engaging in such behaviour. They followed a consistent pattern, requesting funds for their child’s food or return tickets to Jordan.
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Sebuah kiriman dibagikan oleh MEDIA INFORMASI SEPUTAR BALI (@denpasar.viral)
This clip went viral through locals and spread among international tourists. There were also a few comments about this Jordanian Family, saying that these families had been strolling around restaurants, tourist destinations, and also shopping centers.
The individuals involved were identified as Fatma Ali do Sunna (24 years old, the husband), Jayel Shamsi Juma (21 years old, the wife), and their 2-year-old daughter named LADJ. They often had their daughter in a stroller to evoke sympathy from those they approached for money.
Their actions disrupted the local residents and prompted a swift response from the Civil Service Police Unit of Kuta.
“We arrested them around 5:30 PM local time on Dewi Sri Street in Kuta. We are collaborating with Class I Immigration Ngurah Rai for their swift deportation,” said Gustu Agung Ketut Suryanegara, the Head of the Civil Service Police Unit in Badung.
A lot of people feel sorry for the children that were used as the main reason for the parents to do street begging. However, this is not the first case for the authorities to have encountered poor or problematic tourists in Bali.
After recovering from the pandemic situation in 2020, Bali Government has been through a lot of crime cases involving foreign tourists. In October 2023, there were several similar cases that happened, such as shoplifting, helmet theft, and many more. So, this is not a surprising thing if it makes it into the Bali news today.