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Indonesian police in Bali have arrested two French nationals and an Italian man for allegedly producing and distributing illegal pornographic content
The trio, consisting of one woman and two men, was detained following a police investigation into viral social media footage that allegedly depicted explicit acts.
The suspects were identified by Badung district police chief Joseph Edward Purba during a press conference on 17 March.
According to The Straits Times, the group allegedly sought to generate a profit from the creation of adult videos, an act that is strictly prohibited under Indonesia's stringent pornography laws.
The investigation was reportedly triggered by a "viral video" circulating on various social media platforms
Following the identification of the suspects, immigration officials intercepted the French content creator and the Italian man on Friday as they attempted to board a flight from Bali to Thailand. The third suspect, a Frenchman described as the woman's manager, was arrested several days later in Badung.
Under Indonesian law, the production and distribution of pornography are criminal offences that carry significant penalties. The three foreigners now face up to 10 years in prison for the production of such material, with an additional six years for its online distribution.
Historically, these laws have also included fines as high as USD360,000 (RM1.7 million).
Bali, while known as a predominantly Hindu enclave and a global tourist hub, remains subject to the overarching national laws of Muslim-majority Indonesia
Police chief Purba reiterated that the government remains committed to safeguarding the image of Bali's tourism industry by enforcing respect for local norms and national regulations.
The three suspects remain in custody as the legal proceedings continue.
