Aussie faces up to Bali crash charges

An Australian man who has voluntarily returned to Bali to face criminal charges says it was just "the right thing to do".

Joshua Ronald Terelinck.

An Australian man has voluntarily returned to Bali to face charges over a fatal motorbike crash. (AAP)

An Australian man says he has returned to Bali to face charges over a fatal motorbike crash because "it was the right thing to do".

Joshua Terelinck, 33, has been in a police cell awaiting trial for the past month.

His case, with charges of driving causing death, was handed over to prosecutors on Thursday.

"I understood the situation when I came back but it was the right thing to do," the Perth panel beater told reporters.

"I have to respect the law here so I knew what was gonna happen, but it was the right thing to do."

Terelinck was holidaying in Bali on July 9 when his motorbike collided with that of a local man around 2am.

The 22-year-old victim suffered multiple injuries and died in hospital eight days later.

The Australian paid Rp55 million ($A5500) in compensation to the victims' family and went home, but returned to Bali to face charges carrying up to six years' jail after receiving a summons.

The victim's family accepted the payment and forgave Terelinck, but police decided to press charges anyway.

The case is similar to that of another West Australian man, Jake Drage, who was last year jailed in Java after a fatal motorcycle crash while he was on a surfing holiday.

The victim's family befriended Drage and didn't want the case to go ahead, but the 23-year-old was sentenced to nine months' jail.

Prosecutor Ni Luh Oka Ariani told reporters Terelinck would face a maximum six years' jail and a Rp12 million fine ($A1200).

She said he would be kept at Kerobokan jail and prosecutors had 20 days to bring him to trial, but this could be extended.


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Source: AAP



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