Australian Tourist Assaulted and Robbed by Student in Sumba, iPhone 14 Pro Stolen

An Australian tourist, identified by the initials IMC (30), endured a harrowing ordeal when she was sexually assaulted and nearly raped by a male student, AH (17), at Pailiang Beach in Bondo Kodi Village, Southwest Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara. The suspect has been taken into custody. The suspect himself is still a student, said Southwest Sumba Police Criminal Investigation Unit Head, First Inspector Yakobus Sanam, in a statement on Thursday (25/6/2026). In addition to assaulting IMC, AH also seized her iPhone 14 Pro. Yakobus explained the incident occurred while the victim was enjoying the sunrise at Pailiang Beach on Friday (19/6). Shortly afterwards, AH appeared leading a horse and greeted the victim. AH suddenly grabbed IMC’s collar and tripped her, causing her to fall onto her back at the water’s edge. The student then removed the victim’s lower garments and assaulted her. When the victim fought back, AH gripped and forced the Australian tourist’s head into the seawater. The victim struggled to breathe and tried to lift her head, but the suspect repeatedly pushed her head back into the water, Yakobus added. AH also allegedly dragged IMC’s body forcibly into the bushes along the coastal area. The terrified victim offered her phone and some money to avoid being raped, but AH instead beat the foreign tourist. The victim then handed over her iPhone 14 Pro, which the perpetrator seized. As the perpetrator gripped her hand and pulled her collar, the victim slipped out of her shirt and fled, Yakobus said. After her phone was stolen, IMC, who was unclothed, ran to save herself and headed to the hotel where she was staying. The victim is known to be a property developer from Sydney, Australia. Upon arriving at the hotel, the victim met hotel staff and recounted the entire terrifying ordeal she had just experienced, Yakobus continued. IMC reported the attempted rape and assault case on Monday (22/6). Besides arresting AH, police also confiscated evidence including black shorts, underwear, and a damaged black iPhone 14 Pro. We have conducted interviews with the complainant, the victim, and witnesses at the scene. The victim has also undergone a post-mortem examination, Yakobus said.