64 Foreign Nationals in Bali Receive Remission, Four Released Immediately

Sixty-four foreign nationals serving sentences in Bali have received remission in conjunction with the 81st Anniversary of Indonesian Independence, with four of them being released immediately.

The remission is part of a sentence reduction granted to a total of 3,026 inmates in Bali and was handed over symbolically by Bali Governor Wayan Koster at Kerobokan Class IIA Prison, Badung Regency, on Monday.

“They must be grateful so that they become more orderly, disciplined and can soon return to society,” said Koster.

He expressed hope that the guidance and training provided to inmates can be applied after they return to society so that they do not commit legal violations again.

The amount of remission received by inmates varies from one to six months.

In addition, three juvenile inmates received sentence reductions.

Of the 101 prisoners released immediately, four are foreign nationals.

Based on data from the Bali Regional Office of the Directorate General of Corrections, the number of occupants in 11 correctional technical implementation units (UPT) in Bali as of 17 August 2026 reached 4,938 people, consisting of 1,240 detainees and 3,698 convicted prisoners.

The 11 UPTs consist of six prisons, four state detention centres, and one Special Juvenile Development Institution (LPKA).

The assessment includes, among other things, behaviour during the sentence period, participation in rehabilitation programmes, and violation records.

“If they commit violations, we take firm action, from light to severe sanctions,” he said.

Kerobokan Prison is one of the prisons with the highest number of occupants in Bali, including foreign national inmates.

The prison houses 100 foreign inmates from 29 countries serving sentences for various offences, including narcotics and murder.

Kerobokan Prison currently houses 1,866 people against a capacity of 1,480, or is over capacity by approximately 26 percent.

One foreign inmate who did not receive remission is Lamar Aaron Ahchee from Australia, who is serving a sentence for a narcotics offence.

The inmate, who was sentenced to nine years in prison, did not receive remission after being recorded as having committed a violation for being caught carrying a mobile phone given by his girlfriend during a visit on 11 August 2026.

The violation was recorded in Register F, meaning the individual did not meet the requirements to be proposed for remission.