Bali’s Civil Police Service, known as Satpol PP, has confirmed that they are waiting on formal orders to temporarily close Finns Beach Club.
The world-famous venue is facing the threat of temporary closure notices after failing to present full and complete business permits to the authorities while under existing supervision orders.
The Head of Bali Satpol PP, Dewa Nyoman Rai Dharmadi, told reporters on Thursday 13th February, “We will first discuss with the integrated team to get a formulation of what the follow-up action will be.”
He added, “This is a new recommendation verbally delivered and agreed upon by the Commission I of the Bali Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD) which was delivered earlier, of course we will report it first.”
Finns Beach Club came under the supervision of authorities in Bali after it was investigated for religious blasphemy after conducting a fireworks display while a local Balinese community was conducting a religious ceremony on Berawa Beach, just steps from the venue itself.
During the investigation, Bali authorities found that the foreign-owned business had been committing a series of serious permit and licensing violations. The company was given 60 days to get its papers in order and in many cases has failed to do so.
The company has noted that it is the AMDAL, or environmental impact assessment that is causing delays due to its lengthy processes. However, since the AMDAL has not been represented to the authorities in over 90-day the Bali House of Representatives is moving to implement temporary closure notices.
Dharmadi confirmed that Satpol PP has been asking Finns Beach Club for evidence of its environmental impact assessment since October and admitted that completing this paperwork takes a long time.
He noted “We respect the process, it can’t be completed in a month because the AMDAL is a fairly long case. At the beginning they developed [the beach club] from small, to become big like now, the AMDAL should adjust.”
Dharmadi revealed that rather than immediately implementing the request from the Bali Regional People’s Representative Council, he will wait to be given the go-ahead by the joint authorities, including the Acting Governor of Bali, Sang Made Mahendra Jaya, once further consultations have been made by the tourism office, the environment and forestry office, the licensing office, the trade office, and the Indigenous people’s advancement office.
He noted that Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia (PHDI), the leading Hindu association in Indonesia, will only be asked for their considerations in the process and will not have direct input in the same way as agencies listed in the integrated team above.
The story has hit the headlines this week as Finns Beach Club is one of Bali’s most famous and in-demand entertainment venues. The business employed over 2,000 people, whose income now hangs in the balance.
This is not the first big venue in Bali to be given temporary closure notices in the last few months. PARQ Ubud, a lifestyle and residential complex in Ubud was issued with temporary closure notices in November 2024 and was formally and irrevocably closed down on the 20th of January 2025, with the business’s founder Andre Frey arrested on 24th January in connection with the ‘illegal transfer of land functions.’
One reason PARQ Ubud was closed down was the development of protected landscapes and the company’s inability to produce paperwork suggesting sufficient environmental protective measures had been put in place or showing that the land usage permits had been transferred.
Back in 2022, Finn’s neighbor Atlas Beach Club was investigated over a similar issue. Though the venue was allowed to keep operating while permits were completed, the company’s founders were also caught in a religious blasphemy case in another of their business operations.
For now, Finns Beach Club and Finns Recreation Club remain open and fully operational.
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Exp
Saturday 15th of February 2025
The 5 Australians filmed fighting off Finns security have reported Finns security to the police for mistreatment. It started with one in the group was manhandled and mistreated outside and the other 4 joining in outside the club to defend their comrade.
The security in the tourist zones are sourced from the big gangs (ormas) like Laskar Bali that are controlling these areas. Google them and what you think is exactly how they are.
LINK
Steve bm
Monday 17th of February 2025
@Exp, it was common for security in there flash uniforms and big shiny combat boots inside and at door at sari club back in the day to kick the stuffing out of lokals like a group kicking all witnessed by myself several times. Hated that place expreso bar was good
Shorty
Sunday 16th of February 2025
@Exp,
Your link is a version of events given by Mohammed Rifai, one of the Australians involved, when he subsequently made a counter complaint/charge. I'm in no way supporting or denying his version of events.
No police attended during the fracas, nor is there any CCTV. Cause and allocation of blame will be difficult.
In cases like this lodging a counter claim is a quite common strategic ploy.
Shorty
Sunday 16th of February 2025
@Exp,
In cases like this where there was no police attendance or CCTV it's reasonably common to file counter complaints/charges.
Shorty
Sunday 16th of February 2025
@Exp,
Your radarbali.id link
The sequence of events reported by Mohammed Rifai varies from others.
Elsewhere it's reported the Australian being ejected had behaved badly to a female guest, had refused to settle his bill, had been aggressive to the security ejecting him. Once outside his mates attacked the security.
We should wait for the police to sort it out before jumping to conclusions and making judgements.
The frequent Bali traveller
Saturday 15th of February 2025
If closed it will not open up again. That processing of documents and papers takes so long by offices that it can not be processed in the by authority given times. And they know that. That's a most known issue to businesses to build or sustain. That authorities will overload them by provide this and that in time frame of so long and so long. They all connected to each other and if not have this kind of permit you can not apply to the other ones. The government should more help on the processing then put rocks in the way. Cause there is a lot of local people working which will loose they jobs. But it seems like they make more difficult to sustain implemented or build up new businesses by they very complex requirements.Good governing official should help that local staff is not in danger to get offloaded.
Sven
Sunday 16th of February 2025
@The frequent Bali traveller, good. It shows the other wannabe investors to keep their money away from Bali. It's hugely corrupt and doesn't deserve foreign investments.
Micky
Saturday 15th of February 2025
Oviously someone at Finns didnt pay enough bribe money
Steve bm
Monday 17th of February 2025
@Thommo, yes I've never set foot in these places and never would, not into making people rich when I can buy cheap big beers from my lokal warung
Thommo
Sunday 16th of February 2025
@Micky, the known hand of corruption will get this sorted. Finns continue your sleasefest and tacky daily activity. You feed the shallow wannabes and empty headed hedonists flaunting their vacuous selves who believe it is the Bali experience.
Mark Whiting
Saturday 15th of February 2025
Oh dear, and I do believe it was the same place where there was an ugly brawl between security guards and some drunken Australians, if so, as an Australian, I find the behaviour of those Australians involved in the ugly brawl, disgusting and disrespectful, and as an Australian, I'll be going over to Bali for a holiday in late May, and I for one are the kind of Australian you want to have over there, because I don't drink Alcohol and I don't smoke or take illicit drugs or substances.
I have enough on my plate as a person born with a sight and hearing disability as it is, so you'll find that not all Australians are like this, but as they say, it only takes a small minority to spoil it for the majority.
Exp
Saturday 15th of February 2025
"Bali authorities found that the foreign-owned business had been committing a series of serious permit and licensing violations."
All smooth sailing for years for this club and now this sudden bump in the road? Anything to do with the election last year?
So what happen to another (possibly) foreign owned luxury apartment complex by Magnum (on a 200 x 60 meter site) now abandoned next to Icon mall on Sanur beach. Here they have constructed permanent concrete structures all the way up to the beach -- which is a big no-no as nothing permanent within 30 meter of the beach. There is a claim online they overlap the beach zone with more than 3,000m2. Big trouble
Good luck investing in Bali and try doing the same short-cuts as the locals.