Swiss National Detained by Bali Police After Viral Insult to Nyepi

Bali Police have arrested a Swiss foreign national, initialled LAZ, who is now a suspect in a case of alleged insult to Nyepi Day. The insult also went viral on Instagram and drew public attention. Head of Public Relations for Bali Police, Commissioner Pol Ariasandy, stated that the foreigner was secured in the early hours of Saturday (21/3) regarding the handling of the viral case of alleged criminal acts against religion and beliefs related to Nyepi in Bali. “We have uncovered a criminal act against religion and beliefs,” said Commissioner Ariasandy on Monday (23/3). Ariasandy explained that on Friday (20/3) around 08:00 WITA, personnel from Subdit III Ditressiber Polda Bali profiled the Instagram account @luzzysun owned by LAZ, who posted an Instagram story with the words: “A day of silence where you’re not allowed to go outside in bali is pretty peaceful outside :), F**k Nyepi Day and Fuck Your Rules Too”. This post was made while Hindus were observing the Catur Brata Penyepian in Bali. After identifying the account owner’s identity and Swiss nationality, officers then searched for the account owner’s whereabouts. Subsequently, officers who had been tailing the account owner from the Kuta area in Badung Regency and Ubud in Gianyar Regency secured LAZ and brought him to Ditressiber Polda Bali for further investigation. Then, on Saturday (21/3) at 16:00 WITA, police conducted a case review for escalating to investigation, followed by a case review for designating LAZ as a suspect, and an examination was carried out. “At 23:00 WITA, investigators detained the suspect and secured evidence in the form of one iPhone 16 mobile phone unit and other electronic evidence,” he said. Through his actions, the suspect is charged under Article 301 paragraph (1) of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code. This article regulates the act of disseminating or spreading writings, images, or recordings containing criminal acts through information technology means to be known by the public.