Identity of Body Found in Jatiluwih Forest, Tabanan, Revealed as South African Photographer

The mystery surrounding the discovery of a body in the Sanghyang Forest, Banjar Dinas Gunungsari Umakayu, Jatiluwih Village, Penebel District, Tabanan, has been resolved. Following a series of investigations, police have confirmed the identity of the victim as Adriaan Campbell Louw (53), a South African national who worked as a photographer. Tabanan Police Criminal Investigation Unit Head AKP Made Teddy Satria Permana stated that the victim’s identity was confirmed through crime scene processing, witness examinations, and coordination with the Immigration Office and the South African Consulate. Police found several of the victim’s belongings at the scene, including a black iPhone 13 with a red silicone case. The Medical ID feature on the mobile phone displayed the identity of Adriaan Campbell Louw. This data was then matched with immigration records, which showed that the victim held a visit stay permit in Bali. The investigation also revealed that the victim had stayed at Guava Eco Living in Banjar Gunungsari Umakayu, Jatiluwih, from 9 to 15 June 2026. However, he left the accommodation on 13 June and never returned. Several personal items, including a MacBook and another mobile phone with the same Medical ID, were left behind in his room. The management and staff of the accommodation also recognised a bag found at the location where the body was discovered as belonging to the victim, further strengthening the identification. Tabanan Police Chief AKBP I Putu Bayu Pati added that while the victim’s identity has been confirmed, the cause of death is still pending the results of an autopsy and forensic toxicology examination at Prof Ngoerah General Hospital in Denpasar. He also encouraged stricter supervision of all hiking activities on the slopes of Mount Batukaru, stating that the police will conduct a thorough evaluation of hiking procedures if necessary. He plans to collaborate with the regional government and local traditional villages to formulate new regulations to ensure the safety of nature enthusiasts traversing the route. One of the main points in the plan to tighten regulations is the diversion of all hiking access to a single entry point. This measure is being taken because there are currently several entry points to the peak of Batukaru, which makes the process of registering hikers disorganised. Through this single-entry system, officers will be able to conduct detailed supervision from the time of departure until the hikers return. The body was previously discovered on 28 June 2026 in a state of decomposition, with the head already skeletal, in a hollow in the middle of the Sanghyang Forest, Jatiluwih. A witness who was on his way to present offerings at Pura Kak Resi smelled a pungent odour from the location. Upon investigation, the witness found the body in a kneeling position and immediately reported the incident to village authorities.