Australian father, 43, accused of stealing a $1,250 Gucci bag in Bali insists he 'forgot' about it and was going to pay for it later
- Bilal Kalache allegedly shoplifted a Gucci bag from a duty-free store in Bali
- The 43-year-old Sydney father appeared in an Indonesian court on Thursday
- He denied the charges claiming an employee said he could pay at the airport
- Kalache said he forgot to pay for the bag because he was asked to leave the store
An Australian father who is accused of shoplifting a Gucci handbag in Bali has appeared in court insisting he 'forgot' to pay for the item.
Bilal Kalache, 43, of Sydney, was arrested on January 10 after he allegedly swiped a $1,250 designer purse from a Kuta duty-free shop in the Bali Galiera shopping centre.
During his first court appearance on Thursday, Kalache represented himself and denied stealing, claiming a store employee told him he could pay for the bag later at the airport - which staff have denied, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Bilal Kalache, 43, who is accused of shoplifting a Gucci handbag in Bali appeared in court on Thursday insisting he 'forgot' to pay for the item
This is the Gucci crossbody bag Kalache is accused of stealing at a Kuta duty free shop on January 10
He said he then forgot to pay for the purse after employees asked him to leave the store.
Duty-free staff allegedly tried to chase down Kalache, who was on holiday with his son and a friend, but when they arrived at the address he had given them they found he was not staying there.
He was later stopped at the airport by police who alleged found the Gucci purse inside the son's bag.
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Kalache was arrested and jailed in a Kerobokan prison.
According to reports, the trio had arrived at the store around 4pm and asked a shop assistant for a black bag from a showcase.
When the employee stepped to the back of the store to collect the item, Kalache then allegedly grabbed a different coloured Gucci sling bag, throwing it over his shoulder.
Kalache allegedly swiped a $1,250 designer purse from a Kuta duty-free shop in the Bali Galiera shopping centre (pictured)
When he approached the cashier to pay up there was some kind of verbal argument between the shop assistant and Kalache's friend.
Kalache allegedly told the assistant to apologise before leaving with both bags.
'The suspect then left the Gucci store with his son and friend,' Kuta police investigator Putu Ika Prabawa said.
'When they left the store the bag that was slung across the suspect's body hadn't been paid for.'
Kalache faces a maximum five-year sentence for theft.
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