NusaBali.com. RadarBali.com and The State News Agency Antara report that Luzian Andrin Zgraggen, a Swiss national, has been arrested by police in Bali, charged with blaspheming the Balinese people and their culture through online postings profanely condemning Nyepi Day – Bali’s sacred day of silence. The Swiss citizen was formally named a criminal suspect on Saturday, 21 March 2026, and placed in custody at police headquarters in central Denpasar.
The charges stem from posts, originally uploaded and subsequently deleted from Zgraggen’s Instagram account (@luzzysun). The subject postings included highly derogatory reactions to Zgraggen being stopped by members of the Balinese community from venturing outside his accommodation on the officially mandated day of silence. He irreverently allegedly referred to “the day of silence where you’re not allowed to go outside in Bali is pretty peaceful outside” . . . saying “F**k Nyepi Day and F**k Your Rules Too.”
The objectionable postings were detected at the time of posting by the Cybercrime Division of the Bali Provincial Police.
Widespread public condemnation of Zgraggen’s posting prompted the Bali police to investigate, formally download and document the subject postings, and track down Zgraggen’s whereabouts in Bali. Police quickly located the Swiss national and delivered him to police headquarters for further questioning.
After police questioning, Zgraggen was named a criminal suspect and detained. Police also confiscated the man’s iPhone and other electronic devices. He is charged under Article 301 paragraph (1) of Law Number 1 of 2023 of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP). This article regulates the act of broadcasting or disseminating writings, images, or recordings containing criminal content for public access via information technology.
Police investigators continue to compile the criminal dossier, which will eventually be presented to State Prosecutors for use at trial.
Prior to his formal apprehension, police brought Zgraggen to the private residence of Bali’s outspoken female Senator Ni Luh Djelantik in the Tumbak Bayuh area of Mengwi on Friday, 20 March 2026. Following a verbal dressing-down by the Senator, Djelantik asked the police to take the Swiss national into custody. The following day, paving the way for the Swiss man’s arrest, Djelantik filed a formal police report at police headquarters (LP/B/258/III/2026/SPKT/POLDA BALI).
The Indonesian Criminal Code deems fomenting unrest and posting hateful statements online is punishable by up to three years imprisonment and a fine of up to Rp. 200 million.
Related Links
The Do’s and Don’ts of Nyepi Day in Bali
Nyepi: A Millennium & More of Bali Silence
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