BADUNG, DEWATA.NEWS – Police in Badung have arrested three foreign nationals linked to the production and distribution of a pornographic video filmed at a villa in Pererenan, Mengwi, after the footage circulated widely on social media.
The suspects were identified as MMJL (23), a French woman, NBS (24), an Italian man, and ERB (26), a French man. Authorities said ERB acted as both manager and the person responsible for uploading the content.
Badung Police Chief AKBP Joseph Edward Purba said the video was recorded on Sunday, March 8, at around 2:40 p.m. local time at a villa located on Jalan Pantai Pererenan.
“The motive of the suspects was to gain financial profit from producing and distributing pornographic content through digital platforms,” Joseph said on Tuesday (March 17).
The case came to light after police investigators analyzed a viral video suspected to have been recorded in the Badung area.
On Friday (March 13) at approximately 6:30 p.m., officers began tracing the origin of the video. During the investigation, police questioned an online motorcycle taxi driver who had previously been involved in the content production.
From the witness, investigators obtained the identities of the suspects and details about the filming location.
Police then coordinated with Ngurah Rai Immigration after receiving information that two of the suspects were planning to leave Bali by air.
“We received information that two suspects were about to depart Bali. After coordinating with immigration authorities, both were successfully secured,” Joseph said.
All three suspects were subsequently taken to Badung Police Headquarters for further investigation.
Authorities seized several items as evidence, including three mobile phones, one black camera, a sky-blue laptop, and an online motorcycle taxi vest used during the video production.
Investigators have also questioned five witnesses, consisting of four men and one woman.
The suspects have been charged under Article 407 of Law No. 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code, which carries a prison sentence ranging from six months to 10 years. They are also charged under Article 45 paragraph (1) of Law No. 19 of 2016 on Electronic Information and Transactions, which carries a maximum penalty of six years in prison.
Police confirmed that none of the suspects are repeat offenders and that the case remains under further investigation.