AN Australian man who was wrestled to the ground in Bali’s international airport after teetering on the edge of a second-floor ledge will not be facing any charges or sanctions and is being treated in hospital for depression.
Ngurah rai airport authorities confirmed that Gregory Lee Butler would not be charged after Tuesday night’s tense 90-minute stand-off which ended after a fellow traveller helped him off the ledge and to safety.
The dramatic incident, which was caught on film in the busy departures lounge of the airport, followed an earlier incident the night before when the Kuala Lumpur bound flight he was on was cancelled after he tried to knock on the cockpit door as the flight taxied to take off, claiming someone was trying to kill him.
Mr Butler, 46, whose passport indicated he was born in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, was taken to Sanglah hospital where he was being treated for depression.
After he was detained Mr Butler told reporters that he never intended to jump but was highlighting corruption in Government circles.
RELATED: Aussie creates chaos at Bali airport
Arie Ahsanurrohin, the communications and legal head of Ngurah rai airport operator, said no legal action would be taken against Mr Butler.
“We will not file a lawsuit related to this case. For us the most important thing is to make sure the airport operation and service to passengers is running well,” Mr Ahsanurrohin said.
The Ngurah rai airport police chief, Krisna Mahardika, said the Australian Consulate had now taken Mr Butler to hospital.
“It is alleged that he has depression. As of now, there is no lawsuit from the airport operator,” he said.
The incident began on Tuesday when Mr Butler climbed over a barrier and stood on a ledge on the second floor, near a Coffee Club cafe.
He was shouting and pacing along the ledge as an Austrian man, Erol Buyuk climbed over with him in a bid to calm him coax him back as police watched on.
Mr Buyuk said later that he told Mr Butler all people have problems and that his actions were not helpful.
Eventually he was involved in pushing Mr Butler back over the barrier where he was pounced upon by police and security.
Later Mr Butler said he wanted to highlight Government corruption but it was not clear to whom he was referring. At one stage he named the Australian Government.
He was sedated by authorities and then taken from the airport in an ambulance to the hospital, where he remains.