An Australian tourist has been deported from Bali and given a 10-year ban from Indonesia after allegedly engaging in a sex act in public, which was captured on CCTV.
Billy Aspinall, 27, was arrested at Bali's I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport on August 25 as he attempted to board a flight home. He had been detained by immigration authorities for two weeks.
The incident occurred on August 22 in North Kuta, where Aspinall was allegedly seen with a woman he had recently met, engaging in a sex act on a resident's driveway. The event was recorded by a security camera.
The head of the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office, Muhamad Novyandri, confirmed Aspinall's deportation on Wednesday, stating it was a result of cooperation between immigration and local police to maintain public order. Aspinall was on a Batik Air flight bound for Brisbane.
"The deportation of BA was carried out on Tuesday night using a Batik Air flight on the Denpasar-Brisbane route," Novyandri said. "We will continue to strengthen immigration supervision and maintain close co-ordination with law enforcement authorities, while taking firm action if violations of immigration regulations are found in the future."
North Kuta chief police commander Ketut Sukadana commented that the alleged indecent acts could cause public concern and negatively affect the image of tourism in the area if not handled seriously. The CCTV footage of the alleged act went viral late last month.
Authorities have not yet identified the woman involved, though she is believed to be a foreign national who was with Aspinall prior to the incident. A local woman reportedly discovered the pair and shouted at them to stop, but her pleas were allegedly ignored. The entire alleged act lasted approximately 15 minutes.
Following the incident, local residents reportedly held a cleansing ceremony at the site to purify it of negative energy.
Public indecency and sex outside marriage are illegal in Indonesia. While Bali is predominantly Hindu, Indonesia is a Muslim-majority country with conservative laws regarding sexual conduct. In January, Indonesia implemented a new Criminal Code that includes provisions criminalizing premarital sex and cohabitation, with potential penalties ranging from six months to a year in jail. However, legal experts have noted that such offenses can only be prosecuted upon a complaint filed by specific family members, such as a legal spouse, parents, or children, meaning foreign tourists are generally unlikely to face charges unless such a complaint is made.