Bali police are investigating the death of Australian Cameron James Michael Hughes, 39, who was found deceased in an immigration detention cell on Friday, July 10. Hughes had been detained for overstaying his tourist visa by 98 days.
Hughes, a vintage car restorer from Perth, had resided in Bali for 15 years. He was taken from his home in Jimbaran to the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office, where he was placed in a detention room awaiting deportation. His detention was subject to regular checks and CCTV monitoring.
CCTV footage released by police shows Hughes pacing his cell and briefly interacting with an object before entering the bathroom and closing the door. Authorities believe Hughes may have harmed himself at approximately 5:25 p.m. local time. A guard, conducting routine checks, found him unresponsive in the bathroom after noticing he had been in the toilet for an extended period.
At 5:30 p.m., the guard discovered Hughes with a towel entangled around his neck, secured to a tap. The immigration officer immediately contacted a hospital for an ambulance. Efforts to resuscitate Hughes continued until paramedics arrived at 6:14 p.m. He was transported to a hospital, where he died at 6:47 p.m.
Police spokesman Senior Commander Ariasandy stated that initial investigations suggest no foul play, although the investigation is ongoing. An autopsy was completed on Wednesday, but the results have not been publicly released.
The family of Hughes expressed devastation and confusion regarding the circumstances of his death, stating they have received conflicting information. They described Hughes as a devoted father and hardworking individual who was attempting to navigate Indonesia's immigration system to extend his visa and remain close to his eight-year-old son. The family has indicated they will work with consular staff to understand the full details of the situation.