Badly Behaved Bali Tourists Hit Local Headlines As Island Promises Zero Tolerance Approach 

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Tourists, digital nomads, and expats in Bali are being reminded of the island’s zero tolerance approach to foreigners breaking the law.

Over the last two weeks, foreigners in Bali have hit headlines for a number of reasons, but all have been found to be breaking the law or disrespecting local culture. 

An Australian national, known by his initials WRJ, was arrested by North Kuta Police on Sunday, 3rd August, after stealing and setting a car on fire. The man is reported to have been under the influence of alcohol when he stole a Toyota Avanza belonging to a local security guard. WRJ is reported to have latterly set the car on fire after going on a drunken rampage. 

According to local reports, the owner of the vehicle, WK, was working a night shift at a venue on Jalan Batu Belig. While he was on his break and sitting in his car, a co-worker informed him that there was a guest at the nightclub behaving violently and that he needed to return inside. 

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As WK was preparing to leave his vehicle, the WRJ is reported to have been seen running from inside the club towards WK and his car. WK moved out of the way to avoid conflict with WSJ, who jumped into the car and drove away. WK was able to chase after him on the motorcycle of a friend.

WK was able to follow WSJ to a nearby villa where he was believed to have been staying. Unable to locate the car or WSJ, and upon discovering that WSJ was suspected of stealing the cellphone of the villa manager, a report to the police was made. 

The Denpasar Police Public Relations Chief, AKP I Ketut Sukadi, confirmed to reporters that on Sunday night, a burning car was successfully extinguished by Denpasar City Fire Department officers.

Based on the crime scene investigation, the car is suspected to have been set on fire by a foreign national who fled the scene. “The burning car is suspected to have been set on fire by the foreign national who caused the trouble. There were no fatalities or injuries in the fire.”

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Speaking separately, the Head of Public Relations Sub-section of Badung Police, Aiptu Ni Nyoman Ayu Inastuti, explained that after receiving a report of robbery involving a foreign national, North Kuta Police officers immediately went to the villa where the perpetrator was staying and arrested him immediately for further investigation.

“The suspect was taken to the North Kuta Police Headquarters for further questioning and legal proceedings. As a result of this incident, the victim suffered material losses of IDR 160 million.”

Police teams are now working with the Special Immigration Office at the Ngurah Rai International Airport ahead of implementing immigration administrative action. 

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In a less dramatic but no less illegal case, a video has gone viral of a foreigner driving a motorcycle along the Bali Mandara Toll Road Highway without a helmet. Speaking to reporters, Wayan Purwajaya, Assistant Manager of RQM and Corporate Communication for PT Jasamarga Bali Tol, shared, “Our officers had warned the man to wear a helmet, but he ignored it. It seems he wasn’t listening because he was wearing a headset. The driver has been tracked down and called in to the Main Road Traffic Safety Headquarters (Mako Induk VI) for questioning. 

Purwajaya told reporters, “The person concerned has been given an explanation and has been given sanctions in accordance with applicable regulations.”

It is not only reports of robbery and dangerous driving that have been hitting headlines, but fraud and organised drug crime too. Police have confirmed the arrest of a 44-year-old Canadian citizen on suspicion of committing villa rental fraud.

The man had agreed to pay for a year of rent across two large payments. However, he told the property owner that he had sent funds, which never arrived, and sent fictitious proof of transfers. 

Last week, two foreign nationals (WNA) from Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, named TH, aged 35, and EVP, aged 34, were arrested under suspicion of stealing IDR 191 million from a foreign currency exchange booth in Kuta, Bali.

Kuta Police Chief, Commissioner Agus Riwayanto Diputra, told reporters, “They have committed this crime twice, the first time in Canggu using the same modus operandi.”

In April 2025, Bali Governor Wayan Koster made it clear that the authorities are to take a no-mercy and zero tolerance approach to foreigners found to be breaking the law in the province.

He announced on 14th April, “Today is the first momentum for me as Governor to take firm and tough action against foreign tourists who behave badly while in Bali Province.”

“So there is no mercy, and we hope that the deportation carried out will be a lesson and a warning to all foreign tourists visiting Bali to obey the law, and respect Balinese culture and local wisdom.”