A British boxer accused of assaulting a local motorist in Ubud is facing a potential five-year prison sentence, according to Gianyar police.
Liam Orme, 22, from Weston-super-Mare, was arrested on 3 May after allegedly attacking a local man the night before on Jalan Raya Pengosekan, a busy stretch in central Ubud.
Incident triggered by reckless riding
The incident occurred around 22.10 WITA on 2 May, when Orme was reportedly performing wheelies on a rented red Honda CBR motorcycle. According to police, he nearly struck a 35-year-old local motorist, identified as Alit, with the bike’s front wheel.
In response, Alit shouted at Orme in anger. Police say Orme reacted by chasing the man and punching him twice outside a Circle K store. The blows allegedly caused a cut on Alit’s left cheek and a nosebleed. He later sought medical treatment at Sanjiwani Hospital and filed a report with the Gianyar Police.
Police secured several pieces of evidence, including Orme’s passport, the motorcycle, and a red-and-black full-face helmet. He was taken into custody the following day at his hotel.
Boxer with prior criminal record
Orme is a professional boxer in the United Kingdom and was visiting Bali on a tourist visa. Police Chief AKBP Umar confirmed that authorities would not seek deportation but would pursue legal proceedings in Indonesia.
“He is a boxer in England and here as a tourist. We are not deporting him, but we are following legal procedures as instructed by the Regional Police Chief,” Umar said.
Video footage shared online showed Orme wearing an orange detainee jumpsuit during a media presentation at the Gianyar Police station.
Further details have since emerged regarding Orme’s prior criminal history in the UK. In September 2023, he was sentenced by Bristol Crown Court for careless driving, assault, and threatening behaviour. The court issued a 12-month community order, a two-month curfew, and a restraining order banning contact with the other party.
At the time, the presiding judge described Orme’s actions as “ugly offences” and said he had behaved “like a thug in a shop” before continuing the aggression in public.
Orme has previously spoken about how boxing helped steer him away from further trouble. In a 2020 interview, he credited the sport with keeping him out of prison and expressed hopes of turning professional.
Indonesian authorities have charged Orme under Article 351(2) of the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison for assault.
