An Australian tourist faces deportation from Bali after being apprehended by authorities for alleged public indecency. Billy Aspinall, 27, from Brisbane, was arrested at Denpasar Airport on Wednesday as he was preparing to board a flight to Australia.
The incident occurred on Saturday night when CCTV footage captured a man and woman allegedly engaged in a sex act outside a residence in Tibubeneng village, North Kuta. The footage subsequently went viral, leading police to place Aspinall on a watch list.
A homeowner reportedly discovered the pair and shouted at them to stop, but they allegedly ignored her. North Kuta police described the act as "immoral" and stated it lasted approximately 15 minutes. Facial recognition technology was utilized by officers to identify and intercept Aspinall before his departure.
"The owner of the house has decided to apologize to him and not continue the legal process," Badung Police chief Joseph Edward Purba stated at a press conference. Aspinall could have faced up to a year in prison under Indonesia's laws, but he was instead handed over to immigration authorities for deportation.
Aspinall told police he had been in Bali for four days to attend a friend's wedding. He indicated he did not know the woman's name or nationality, stating they had both been drinking. Police investigator Azarul Ahmad reported that Aspinall met the woman in a beach club near the location.
Police are continuing to search for the woman, who they believe is also a tourist. Immigration official Teguh Santoso confirmed that Aspinall's deportation to Australia would proceed once administrative processes are finalized.
Indonesia's revamped Criminal Code, adopted in January, criminalizes premarital sex, cohabitation, and public drunkenness, with penalties ranging from six months to a year in jail for such offenses.
Aspinall is described as a car enthusiast who owns Coastline Performance & Mechanical in Coolum Beach and has a distinctive mustache. He was detained at Denpasar Airport on Wednesday.
