Harvard student arrested for cannabis in Bali dies in custody as a result of police brutality

On August 11, 2022, a 32-year-old Peruvian Harvard Kennedy School student, Rodrigo Ventocilla Ventosilla, was pronounced dead at a hospital in Denpasar, Indonesia while in police custody. According to reports, Rodrigo had previously been arrested for cannabis possession and had allegedly been discriminated against and ill-treated by the police.

Ventocilla, a prominent trans rights activist and transgender man, was pronounced dead as soon as he arrived in Bali five days after he was taken into custody by police for cannabis possession. According to local reports, Ventocilla was visiting Bali with his wife for their honeymoon. While police claim he was arrested for possession of cannabis, Ventocilla’s family alleges that he was arrested on grounds of transphobia and racial discrimination. He was denied his basic human right and was subjected to police brutality and violence while his lawyers and family members were not informed of his condition, Ventocilla’s family claims.

Ventocilla is recognized as an active voice in the trans community. He was a founding member of Diversidades Trans Masculinas, the Peruvian organization for transgender rights. He also completed a master’s degree in Public Administration in International Development at Harvard Kennedy School, a member of the Class of 2023.

The families of Ventocilla and his wife called on the Peruvian judicial system to thoroughly investigate Sebastian and Rodrigo’s human rights abuses and ensure truth, reparation and justice are served, in a public statement released on Tuesday.

Douglas W. Elmendorf, the dean of the Harvard Kennedy School, reiterated in a statement released Tuesday night that the school fully supports the family’s call for a quick and thorough investigation and that relevant information should be released for the general public.

Bali Police Response.

Upon learning of Ventocilla’s death, the Bali Police immediately launched an investigation to determine the cause of death. However, it remains unclear what the focus of the investigation will be and whether the investigation result will be published or not. When asked to comment on the public statement released by Ventocilla’s family, the Bali Police did not comment.

However, the head of public relations for the Bali Police, Stefanus Satake Bayu Setianto, previously stated that Ventocilla died in police custody on August 8, 2022 after ingesting an undisclosed amount of drugs. Stefanu Satake further explained to detikBali, an Indonesian news agency, that Ventocilla died from a complete failure of body function, resulting in impairment of liver and kidney function, including impairment of nervous system function.

Meanwhile, Ventocilla’s family questioned the police statement. In Tuesday’s public statement, they admit they certainly don’t know the cause of Ventocilla’s death and are therefore calling for an independent autopsy.

Event timeline

After vomiting and suffering abdominal pain, Ventocilla was immediately taken to Bhayangkara Hospital, according to reports from Radar Bali, an Indonesian news agency. The source further explained that Ventocilla was transferred to Sanglah Central General Hospital after his health deteriorated, where he later died on August 11, 2022 at precisely 3:10 p.m. local time.

According to Ventocilla’s family, the police were not transparent about the whole situation from the start because they were blocking access to the hospital. The hospital was guarded at all times and its lawyers, including Harvard students who came to the rescue, were denied access.

According to police reports, Ventocilla was first arrested on August 6, 2022 at Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar for owning a herb grinder. Radar Bali also reported that Bali police arrested Ventocilla, who was also in possession of cannabis and two other pills.

Meanwhile, Ventocilla’s family alleges he was arrested for possessing prescription drugs, which he was often taking as mental health medication. The family alleges that Ventocilla and Marallano, his wife, have been denied basic human rights such as liberty, health and the right to legal defense.

Marallano, who arrived on a separate flight, was also arrested without charge by Bali police after attempting to free Ventocilla. The family also accused Bali police of extortion and claimed they demanded a large sum of $200,000 to free Marallano and Ventocilla.

The Peruvian consular services in Indonesia were not spared the wrath of the Ventocilla family. They claimed the consul offered no assistance until news of Ventocilla’s death hit the news. The family’s statement confirmed that the consulate’s actions were negligent and late, hampering the family’s efforts to help Rodrigo when he was originally arrested.

That’s not all; The family also contacted the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, saying they should accept full responsibility for neglecting his duties and conduct a thorough investigation into the acts and omissions of the head of consular services, Julio Eduardo Tenorio Pereyra.

The family maintains that nothing can bring Ventocilla back, but their demand for truth and justice will help pursue the goal of improving the quality of service for Peruvian citizens abroad without preserving ethnicity, class, and gender. According to this statement, the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Peruvian Embassy in Indonesia did not comment on the matter.

On Tuesday, the dean of Harvard Kennedy School, Elmendorf, said the school had been kept apprised of the circumstances of Ventocilla’s death, which the family said were extremely worrying. Elmendorf added that the school will remain close to Ventocilla’s family and will offer full support to the family as they navigate the devastating situation. The HKS graduates and Rodrigo’s HKS classmates were also kind to provide crucial help to the family.

Debra E. “Debbie” Isaacson, HKS Senior Associate Dean for Degree Programs and Student Affairs and Elmendorf, announced Ventocilla’s death to the entire school on August 12, 2022. They recognize that his death is a tragedy to friends and family and everyone at the Kennedy School and to employers whom he would no doubt have served well upon graduation.

Conclusion

The sad tragedy that befell Ventocilla is only the latest cannabis-related crime in Bali, and by Western standards, the penalties for such an act do not match the crime. Most recently, a Brazilian student faced 15 years after being arrested at Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport for possessing 9.1 grams of cannabis.

As a tribute to Ventocilla, Isaacson and Elmendorf announced that HKS will hold a memorial service in his memory.

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