Badung, Bali (ANTARA) - The family of Australian national Byron James Dumschat — also known as Byron Haddow — has raised concerns about the repatriation of his body from Bali, after discovering that his heart was missing when his remains arrived in Australia nearly four weeks after his death.

Dumschat was found dead in a villa pool in Badung on May 26. His family's lawyer, Ni Luh Arie Ratna Sukasari, told reporters on Wednesday that the family only learned later that his heart had been retained in Indonesia without consent.

"The organ was kept without any formal request or approval from the relevant authorities," Ratna said, adding that that the heart was returned to Queensland on August 11, after the hospital requested an additional AU$700 for repatriation.

The autopsy findings, she said, contradicted the simple explanation that Dumschat had drowned. The report cited bruises, bleeding, and head trauma.

"These autopsy findings, the condition of the body, and the fact that witnesses failed to report the incident immediately all reinforce suspicions of foul play," Ratna said.

It remains unclear whether Dumschat was declared dead at the scene or at the hospital. Police did not formally address the case until May 30, four days after his death.

At the time, three other Australian nationals — identified only by the initials BPW, KP, and JL — were present at the villa. The family expressed frustration that police allowed them to leave Bali without being questioned.

Police records show that Sanglah Hospital conducted an external autopsy on May 30 and an internal examination on June 4. The doctor who prepared the report, Nola Margaret Gunawan, has since been summoned to testify.

Hospital official I Made Darmajaya confirmed that Dumschat's heart had been removed at the request of North Kuta Police for pathology analysis.

"It is not easy to determine where abnormalities in the heart are located. The organ was returned after the examination was completed," he said, adding that the delay stemmed from the extended pathology process.

The family has also urged police to review financial transactions prior to Dumschat's death, believing they may provide further clues. Badung Police have yet to announce an official cause of death.

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Translator: Rolandus Nampu, Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Editor: Anton Santoso
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