Aussie tourist arrested at Bali airport ‘trying to flee back to Brisbane’ after manhunt over alleged sex act outside local’s home
An Australian tourist has been arrested while allegedly attempting to flee Bali and return home to Brisbane, after a manhunt was launched over an alleged public sex act that could see him jailed for up to a year under Indonesia’s strict new laws.
CCTV captured a man and woman allegedly engaged in the lewd act outside a home in Tibubeneng village, North Kuta, on Saturday night, sparking outrage in Bali over the perceived disrespect to local customs.
The shocked homeowner had been walking across her yard on her way to prayers when she stumbled across the pair.
She shouted at them to stop, but the man and woman allegedly continued before the homeowner went back inside.
CCTV captured the alleged act of public indecency, which lasted 15 minutes.
The couple were later seen casually walking away.
Bill Aspinall, 27, has been identified as the man allegedly involved and was arrested by Ngurah Rai Immigration Office officers following joint inquiries with Badung Police into the incident.
Aspinall is a car enthusiast who runs Coastline Performance & Mechanical in Coolum Beach and sports a distinctive ‘eighties-style’ moustache.
Aspinall was detained at Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport while attempting to board a flight to Brisbane on Tuesday night.
A manhunt was launched for an Aussie tourist allegedly caught having sex with a woman outside a house in Bali
Australian man Bill Aspinall, 27, has been arrested over the alleged incident
Aspinall (left) was detained at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport while attempting to board a flight home to Brisbane
Police used facial recognition software to identify Aspinall as the man in the CCTV, prompting immigration officials to place him on a watch list.
The Ngurah Rai Immigration Office’s Intelligence and Immigration Enforcement Team took Aspinall into custody before handing him over to Badung Police for further legal proceedings.
Police are still searching for the woman, who is believed to be a foreign tourist.
Ngurah Rai Immigration Office head Muhamad Novyandri stressed that the investigation into the alleged indecency offence was a matter for police.
‘Nevertheless, Immigration remains committed to supporting law enforcement efforts through the Subject of Interest status, which proved effective in preventing the man’s departure,’ Mr Novyandri said.
‘Immigration will continue to work closely with the police to locate the alleged female perpetrator, monitor the legal proceedings, and is prepared to impose immigration sanctions should any violation of immigration regulations be established.’
In Bali, sexual intercourse in public is believed to bring bad energy to a house.
The local homeowner had to perform a Hindu ceremony at the property to expel the bad energy.
The homeowner walked into her yard on her way to prayer when she stumbled across the pair
‘The indecent acts have the potential to cause public concern,’ North Kuta chief police commander Ketut Sukadana said.
‘Particularly among the residents of Tibubeneng, and may negatively affect the image of security and tourism in the North Kuta area if the matter is not addressed and handled seriously by taking firm action against the perpetrators, whether under local customary law or national law.’
Indonesia has overhauled its revamped Criminal Code which now criminalises premarital sex, cohabitation and public drunkenness.
Under the new laws adopted in January, adultery, premarital sex and cohabitation, or unmarried couples living together, are now potential crimes with penalties ranging from between six months to a year in jail.
