Blood, Tears, and a Birthday! Paul La Fontaine’s Search for His Daughters Ends in Violence

DENPASAR – The harrowing journey of a foreign national seeking to reunite with his twin daughters has taken a dark turn, as his attempt to bring them birthday presents ended in violence.

According to testimony at the Denpasar District Court, Paul La Fontaine recounted how, on September 10, 2024—the birthday of his daughters—he went to the home of Luke, the man married to his former wife. Although the divorce decree stated the children should be cared for alternately or jointly, Paul claimed his ex-wife had taken the twins to live with Luke.

“I brought birthday gifts for my two daughters, but when I arrived, six men confronted me,” Paul testified in court on Thursday, August 21, 2025.

A verbal altercation quickly escalated into physical assault. Paul said he was brutally beaten by three men: Agung Danu, Alit, and Mohamad Said—an active military officer whose case is being handled separately by a military tribunal.

“I was singing happy birthday when they attacked me. My head was pinned, I was beaten repeatedly, even my chest was pressed so hard I couldn’t move,” Paul recalled through a translator.

He further testified that Agung Danu threatened him: “I will kill you if you ever come here again.” The threat, Paul said, was heard directly by the panel of judges.

Shockingly, Paul also claimed that two plainclothes police officers from the South Kuta Police stood by and did nothing to stop the assault.

“I was pinned to the ground and saw Mohammad Said pull out a knife,” Paul told the court, adding that Said also smashed a glass photo frame and destroyed the birthday gifts he had brought for his daughters.

During the session, judges repeatedly reminded Agung Danu’s legal counsel not to make assumptions or conclusions, only to ask questions.

The defense alleged that Paul had provoked the confrontation by insulting the attackers, calling them “military mafia.” Paul, however, denied this.

When asked why he ran into a nearby food stall during the attack, Paul explained: “One of them raised a helmet as if to strike me, so I ran inside for safety.” Several eyewitnesses, including the stall owner, reportedly corroborated parts of his account.

Alit, represented by lawyer Axl Mattew Situmorang, denied striking Paul, insisting he only held the victim’s leg. “Alit is a pecalang (traditional village security guard) in Pandawa. He tried to hold Paul down, not beat him,” the lawyer told reporters.

Paul, however, maintained that Alit also held his arm and might have joined in the beating: “I couldn’t see clearly because I was hit from both sides, but I saw his fists clenched.”

Agung Danu admitted in court that he repeatedly struck Paul and said he would take full responsibility for his actions.

Although Alit’s family has attempted to apologize to Paul, he rejected the gesture, saying he did not consider it a formal apology due to cultural differences.

The trial will resume next week with testimony from additional witnesses. (Ray)