[kellyhound]

Phones, windows, furniture and laptops were broken.

On May 31st, the Australian television channel 9News (Nine News) reported on the questioning of an Australian citizen by Vietnamese authorities. The man was accused of vandalizing a busy cafe in Da Nang.

According to the report, the man caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage before being apprehended and taken away by police shirtless.

Australian television channels cited security camera footage from the cafe, showing the man suddenly getting up from a table and smashing a customer's phone who was trying to help him with translation. Cafe staff said the man loudly demanded everyone leave within 10 seconds.

The man then repeatedly struck the bar counter, coffee machine, and front windows with a chair. As many customers fled, he continued to rummage through bags left inside the shop and damaged a laptop.

The news report also stated that a group of customers on the second floor witnessed the entire incident in panic. The man then rushed upstairs, kicked down a door, and assaulted another customer before authorities arrived.

According to the broadcast, the cafe had to close for 2-3 days to repair the damage. The owner is demanding compensation for damages estimated at around $26,000 (nearly 680 million VND).

The Hai Chau Ward Police said the man who vandalized the premises is an Australian national . Initial investigations indicate that he exhibited signs of mental instability at the time of the incident.

The unit has summoned the relevant parties for questioning, preserved the scene for investigation purposes, and is continuing to verify the cause and clarify the incident.

[kellyhound]

According to Article 178 of the Vietnamese Penal Code, causing damage over 500 million VND carries a prison sentence of 7 to 15 years.

[Guns N' Coffee]

I hope he gets to serve his full sentence in Vietnam.

[Mr.NoCredit]

Is this guys problem!?!

He won’t be going home anytime soon now. Way to wreck your vacation.

[MartyK]

Another entitled spoilt little baby having a temper tantrum because he can't get what he wants.

[yah]

Originally Posted by kellyhound ↗

Initial investigations indicate that he exhibited signs of mental instability at the time of the incident.

Ya think?

[kellyhound]

The individual involved has been identified as Shaymus Lilly, an Australian national. He is a 34 year old marketing entrepreneur.

According to accounts from those present, he seated himself at Ge cafe on Le Hong Phong Street and began a conversation with a nearby patron.

He then took that patron’s phone and declined to return it, prompting staff to contact the police. Before officers arrived, he reportedly stood, instructed the remaining patrons to leave, and began destroying the premises.

Other source mentioned: After sitting down and refusing to order, Lilly smashed a phone belonging to a customer who was trying to translate for him.

His family has stepped forward to reveal that he was suffering from a severe bipolar manic episode triggered by a recent assault.

Lilly’s aunt, Simone Buncher, stated that they are completely devastated and deeply fearful for his safety in a Vietnamese prison.

She explained that while he is normally a quiet and loving person, he has lived with bipolar disorder for 10 year.

The family believes his current manic episode and severe paranoia were directly caused by an event a month prior, where he was brutally assaulted by a fake Grab taxi driver in Vietnam, leaving him with a brain bleed and broken bones.

Days before the rampage, Lilly had posted erratic videos on Facebook pleading for help, shouting that he was being targeted by the mafia.

Hi everyone. I’m reaching out to this community again because of the incredible support you showed me last month after I was assaulted by a fake Grab driver (leaving me with a brain bleed and multiple broken bones).
Thankfully, I recovered. But Tuesday night, things took an even darker and more dangerous turn. I am sharing this as an urgent cautionary tale for expats and newcomers in Hoi An.
The Setup
On Tuesday, I was asked to meet with the owner of Hoi An Hanoi Nightclub regarding a brand strategy and marketing proposal for his venue. The initial meeting went well; he asked me to scout local musicians to help build a new music scene to attract Westerners. We agreed to meet the following night so I could present a formal quote and proposal.

The Security Breach:

I returned to my room at Pastorale Villas (the same complex where I was assaulted last month) to work on the proposal. When I arrived, I noticed the security gate lock was broken, but I naively dismissed it as cheap hardware and let my guard down.

The Confrontation:

The next evening, I returned to the nightclub to present the contract. When we got to the pricing section, the owner looked at me and said: “I don’t trust you.”

When I asked why, he replied: “I followed you home last night.”

He then pulled out his phone and showed me photos of myself sleeping in my own bed. Someone had bypassed the broken security gate, entered my room while I was asleep, and photographed me.

My Next Steps & Warning: I have many theories about the motives behind this, but I refuse to stay and guess.

Based on strong advice from trusted local peers, I am not involving the police. Instead, I am prioritizing my safety and leaving the country next week.

Please, learn from my experience. Do not let your guard down, do not dismiss broken security locks, and be incredibly careful who you do business with here. The dark side of this town is very real. Stay safe out there.

[William May]

Well, at least he is in no risk of being eaten by one of those Australian Great White Sharks!

So there's THAT!

[CatBatMan]

He should die in prison just for destroying that awesome Coke lamp.

[CatBatMan]

Someone was after his Lucky Charms.