Peruvian trans activist dies in police custody in Bali

starobserver.com.au:

Peruvian trans activist Rodrigo Ventocilla has died in police custody in Bali after being arrested at Denpasar airport. Ventocilla was a Harvard Kennedy School student from Peru and was known as a prominent trans rights activist.The trans activist was detained on August 6 after local police found ‘suspicious items’ in his luggage while going through customs, as reported by the BBC.

Authorities believed Ventocilla was in possession of drugs, namely cannabis.He died five days later in hospital, after experiencing stomach pain and vomiting, according to Indonesian news outlet Radar Bali.

A statement posted by Ventocilla’s family to social media stated that the items were prescription medication taken for his mental health, and a herb grinder.

The family insisted that Ventocilla died of “police violence” and that his arrest was an “act of racial discrimination and transphobia.