BADUNG, Bali – Behind a theft investigation unfolding in Bali, a separate story has emerged that has little to do with criminal allegations and everything to do with the emotional toll the case has taken on a young family from Algeria.
According to the family’s lawyer, a one-year-old child is currently living inside a women’s detention facility with the child’s mother, who is also a suspect. The father remains in separate police custody, while both parents are said to be experiencing severe psychological distress as the legal process continues.
The lawyer, Florentina, who represents the couple, said the family’s circumstances have become increasingly difficult in recent weeks.
“The child is only one year old and is staying with the mother because of the child’s age,” she told reporters after accompanying the male suspect to a medical examination at a hospital in Kuta.
She stressed that the child is not involved in the criminal case and remains with the mother solely because of Indonesian procedures for infants whose mothers are in detention.
A Family Under Psychological Pressure
Florentina said the female suspect has shown signs of severe emotional distress.
According to her, the woman allegedly attempted to harm herself while in detention by cutting her wrist with a safety pin.
“Mentally, she is under enormous pressure,” Florentina said.
The lawyer added that the couple’s one-year-old child also has a documented heart condition, further increasing the family’s concerns while both parents remain separated during the legal proceedings.
She said medical records have been prepared to support that claim.
Tragedy From Thousands of Miles Away
The family’s situation became even more complicated after relatives in Algeria informed the lawyer that the woman’s father had died after suffering a serious illness.
Florentina said family members had previously hoped the detainee would be allowed to communicate with her father while he was still alive.
According to information received by the legal team, that communication never took place.
“We have not yet informed our client that her father has passed away,” Florentina said. “We are concerned the news could worsen her psychological condition.”
The lawyer said the family is carefully considering how and when to deliver the news.
Theft Investigation Continues
The emotional circumstances surrounding the family are unfolding alongside an ongoing criminal investigation.
The Algerian couple is suspected of involvement in separate thefts of Adidas merchandise at two shopping locations in Kuta.
According to Florentina, her male client has admitted taking the items, while his wife denies any involvement.
She said the defense team has not yet received the complete investigation file and therefore has not been able to fully examine the evidence collected by investigators.
Police have previously indicated that the case relies heavily on CCTV footage.
Separate Allegations Remain Unresolved
Florentina has also raised separate allegations that her male client was physically abused during his arrest and questioning in early June.
She said those claims are based solely on her client’s account and emphasized that the legal team is still seeking evidence before drawing conclusions.
Bali Police have firmly rejected the allegations.
Kuta Police Chief Commissioner Laksmi Trisnadewi Wieryawan said the suspect’s medical condition was not the result of physical violence, adding that he had been cooperative from the moment officers detained him.
The police said an official report on the suspect’s medical examination would be released through the police public relations office.
Beyond the Courtroom
As investigators continue handling the criminal case, the family’s lawyer says the emotional consequences now extend well beyond the courtroom.
A toddler living inside detention with his mother, parents struggling with deteriorating mental health, and news of a death back home have transformed what began as a routine criminal investigation into a deeply human story unfolding far from the family’s homeland.
The theft case remains under investigation, while the allegations of abuse have not been independently verified. Authorities continue to deny any physical mistreatment occurred during the suspects’ detention.
