Shocking Bali! Swiss Foreigner Becomes Suspect After Insulting Nyepi Post
Denpasar, VIVA - A Swiss foreign national, Luzian Andrin Zgraggen, has been designated as a suspect in an alleged case of insulting Nyepi Day.
The Head of Public Relations for Bali Regional Police, Commissioner General of Police Ariasandy, explained that the case was uncovered by personnel from Subdit III of the Bali Regional Police’s Ditressiber unit between 20 and 21 March 2026, stemming from the foreigner’s social media post that sparked widespread discussion among the public.
It all began on Friday, 20 March 2026, around 08:00 WITA, when officers conducted a cyber patrol and discovered a post on the Instagram account @luzzysun.
“In the post, the account owner wrote sentences that were insulting towards Nyepi Day,” he stated, quoted on Monday, 23 March 2026.
After profiling, officers identified the account owner as Luzian Andrin Zgraggen, a Swiss national. Officers then tracked his whereabouts.
On the same day around 20:30 WITA, officers following the suspect’s movements from Kuta to Ubud found him at the residence of Ni Luh Djelantik in Tumbak Bayuh, Mengwi, Badung.
At Ni Luh Djelantik’s request, the foreigner was then secured and brought to the Bali Regional Police’s Ditressiber for further examination.
The following day, Saturday 21 March 2026, around 11:30 WITA, Ni Luh Djelantik officially reported the incident to Bali Regional Police under report number LP/B/258/III/2026/SPKT/POLDA BALI.
After a case review at 16:00 WITA, the case status was elevated to investigation, and Luzian Andrin Zgraggen was named a suspect. Subsequently, at 17:00 WITA, investigators arrested him.
Investigators then conducted an examination at 18:00 WITA, before detaining the suspect at the Bali Regional Police Detention Centre at 23:00 WITA.
For his actions, the suspect is charged under Article 301 Paragraph (1) of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code, regarding the dissemination of content containing elements of religious-based hatred through information technology means.
Bali Regional Police stated that the elements of the charged article have been fulfilled, from the legal subject, the act of dissemination via social media, to the content deemed to contain hatred towards a group based on religion.
Currently, investigators are continuing the legal process by sending a Notification of the Start of Investigation (SPDP), seizing evidence in the form of one mobile phone belonging to the suspect, and examining several witnesses to strengthen the proof. (Ant)