Perth man's death in Bali detention center leaves car restoration customers in limbo

The death of Perth businessman Cameron Hughes, 39, in a Bali immigration detention center last week has left potentially dozens of car restoration customers across Australia and overseas concerned about hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost funds and unfinished vehicles. Hughes, who had lived in Bali for over 15 years and operated businesses like Karma Kombis and Holden Resto Bali, was detained by Balinese immigration authorities for allegedly breaching his visa conditions and was found unresponsive in a toilet. Customers report paying thousands to $100,000 for classic car restorations, with some vehicles remaining unfinished for over five years or delivered in an unroadworthy condition. A private Facebook group, "Holden Resto Bali Horror Stories," has grown significantly since his death, with members sharing anecdotes of their experiences. Reports were made to Bali Regional Police about Hughes's business late last year, and some customers attempted legal mediation. Hughes's family provided a draft statement he wrote before his death, where he attributed business issues to personal and health stresses, denying claims of scamming or deliberately poor work. He also mentioned a visa issue after divorcing his Indonesian wife, which prevented him from working on cars. The future of his business and customers' investments remains unclear.