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Danish woman arrested for pornography in Bali
A woman from Denmark has become the latest to be arrested in Bali's crackdown on foreign nationals exhibiting disruptive behavior.
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Bali immigration officers escort foreign nationals to be deported on April 5, 2023 at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar. (AFP/Immigration Office)
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Danish national has been arrested in Bali for featuring in a pornographic video uploaded to social media, local police told the media on Monday as authorities continue to crack down on visitors it considers disruptive.
The 50-year-old woman, identified only by her initials CAP, could face 10 years in prison if she is found guilty of violating the Pornography Law.
Bali Police chief police Sr. Comr. Stefanus Satake Bayu Setianto told reporters that CAP had been named as a suspect for allegedly violating Article 36 of the controversial 2008 law.
“The article states that any person exhibiting nudity, sexual exploitation, intercourse or other pornographic content in public could face a maximum 10 years in prison and/or a fine of Rp 5 billion [US$335,000],” said Satake.
He added that CAP was found to have exhibited her genitalia in a recent viral video, in which she was seen lifting her skirt and leg to the camera while riding a motorcycle as a passenger.
An investigation found that the video was apparently taken at around midnight in December 2022 in Seminyak.
“We don’t know her motive yet. The Denpasar Police investigation is still ongoing,” Satake said.
Immigration officials initially arrested the Danish national, and was later transferred to police custody so she could be charged with violating the Pornography Law, he added.
Sugito, the head of the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office, said its officers took quick action to investigate the video circulating online. They tracked down CAP at a hotel in Legian on May 27 and made arrangements with the hotel management to pick her up for questioning.
“Based on our team’s investigation, CAP is a citizen of Denmark who entered the country on April 9, 2023 at Ngurah Rai International Airport using the visa on arrival facility. Her visa is valid through June 7, 2023,” Sugito said.
Anggiat Napitupulu, the head of the Bali Law and Human Rights Agency, conveyed his appreciation for the Balinese community’s active role in monitoring and reporting foreigners exhibiting bad behavior.
Anggiat added that all reports would be followed up, as long as they included evidence.
Hindu-majority Bali is a popular holiday destination that attracts many visitors from all over the world.
In recent years, the local community has been dealing with an influx of foreign visitors paying little heed to local customs and traditions, prompting authorities to intensify their crackdown on legal violations perpetrated by foreigners.
Muslim-majority Indonesia is still largely conservative when it comes to religious beliefs and their impacts on the public and individual privacy, which is reflected in its prevailing laws and regulations.
