An Australian tourist has been deported from Bali and banned from Indonesia for 10 years after being caught engaging in a public sex act. Billy Aspinall, 27, from Brisbane, was arrested at Denpasar Airport on Wednesday as he prepared to board a flight home.
The incident occurred on August 22 in Tibubeneng village, North Kuta, when CCTV footage surfaced showing Aspinall and an unidentified woman allegedly having sex on a resident's driveway. The homeowner reportedly yelled at the couple to stop, but they did not comply.
Indonesian authorities placed Aspinall on a watch list for public indecency. Facial recognition technology was used to identify him, and he was intercepted at the airport on August 26. He spent two weeks in immigration detention before his deportation.
"We will continue to strengthen immigration oversight and coordinate closely with law enforcement authorities, while taking firm action if any violations of applicable immigration regulations are found in the future," said Muhamad Novyandri, head of the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office. He stated the deportation was necessary to maintain public order.
While Aspinall could have faced up to a year in jail for the alleged 'immoral act,' the homeowner chose not to press charges. The homeowner and residents subsequently performed a purification ceremony on the driveway.
Aspinall told police he was in Bali for a friend's wedding and had met the woman, believed to be a tourist, at a beach club. He did not know her name or nationality. Police are still searching for the woman.
Indonesia's recently overhauled Criminal Code now criminalizes acts such as premarital sex, cohabitation, and public drunkenness, with potential penalties ranging from six months to one year in prison.