Sky Garden has quickly responded to freshly surfaced allegations that its security guards ‘gangbashed’ an Australian man.
Reports broke this morning, saying that the incident at the popular Kuta nightclub occurred at 1 am on Saturday, April 2. Pictures circulated of the 33-year-old Perth man’s swollen bloodied face and reports said that the man had emergency surgery in Bali that included getting a steel plate inserted in his skull and plastic surgery on his nose.
Less than 24 hours after the story of the Kuta nightclub bashing was first shared, Sky Garden has responded with an official statement, condemning the incident and expressing sympathy for the injured Aussie, but also asserting that no Sky Garden security guards were involved in the violence. The night club stated that a series of interviews and analysis of CCTV footage conducted in a police investigation has them “cleared of any wrong doing.”
And there was definitely alcohol at play during the incident, according to the statement: “The conclusion of the events that transpired clearly indicates this was an altercation involving 2 or more intoxicated ‘patrons’, NOT Sky Garden Security.”
The night club says in the chaos of everything going on, “the guest may have mistaken our security for the patron(s) that he was fighting with.”
News Corp Australia reported that traditional village authorities in Kuta (Bendesa Desa Adat) have given the club a final warning that they’ll be forced to close if these kinds of bloody attacks keep up, but the club insisted in its statement that fun shall continue to be had there:
“Sky Garden is still a great place to come and have fun, and we’re sure there’s well over a million guests that have come through the doors over the past 11 years that can attest to that.”
See the full official statement that Sky Garden released to Coconuts Bali below:
APRIL 20, 2016
Public Statement (from Sky Garden):
With regards to the incident that occurred on April 2, 2016 at Sky Garden Bali
First and foremost, we are truly upset about the injuries that happened to the man from Perth, Australia. We do not condone violence and we take every pre-caution to help prevent it; our patron’s safety and comfort remain our top priorities.
With regards to the events that occurred at Sky Garden on April 2nd, the police have investigated thoroughly via interviews and cctv footage. To date we have been advised that our security have been cleared of any wrong doing, and in fact followed proper procedures. The conclusion of the events that transpired clearly indicates this was an altercation involving 2 or more intoxicated ‘patrons’, NOT Sky Garden Security.
The following day, the Australian patron returned with police, but was unable to recall where and when this incident occurred. CCTV footage was then utilized to piece together the sequence of events that showed there was no foul play by Sky Garden Security. We assumed that in the turmoil of events, the guest may have mistaken our security for the patron(s) that he was fighting with, when in fact the security were doing their jobs by stopping the altercation by separating the patrons from each other. After the altercation, which lasted less than a minute, the patrons whom were fighting were handcuffed and escorted out of the building. The Australian man then requested a taxi whom he instructed to drive him back to his hotel. We were later informed that the Australian man went to BMIC, where he as diagnosed with a fracture nose.
Sky Garden has been open since 2005 and hosts ‘thousands’ of guests daily. Our goal is to provide the best experience possible; however, from time to time some patrons may ‘party’ a bit too hard. In these situations our standard operations procedure is to remove any unruly people from the property immediately in the most peaceful & professional manner possible. If patrons are seriously injured for any reason, our staff will escort them to the hospital of their choice.
Its unfortunate these situations happen in the first place when the majority of our patrons just come to have some well deserved fun. Bali remains a beautiful place to visit, and its nightlife can often be a highlight of many visitor holidays. Too often ‘one sided’ interpretation of events get easily blown so far out of proportion, it ruins the future prospect of fun for everyone… “There’s what people want to hear, then there’s what people want to believe, there’s everything else, then there’s truth.” (James Rebhorn)
Either way we will always continue to assume every compliant from our patrons is the truth, until proven otherwise if necessary. Its important everyone learns from their mistakes, so there’s always room to do better.
Sky Garden is still a great place to come and have fun, and we’re sure there’s well over a million guests that have come through the doors over the past 11 years that can attest to that. We trust our explanation has shed some light on the truth, and we pray that everyone can always just get along.
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