Swiss visitor receives one-year jail term for mocking Bali's Nyepi silence

The Denpasar District Court handed a twelve-month prison sentence to Swiss national Luzian Andrin Zgraggen for violating Indonesia's new criminal code by ridiculing Nyepi, Bali's sacred Day of Silence, on social media. Despite being warned by villa staff about the prohibition on leaving accommodations, he posted videos describing his beach walk and calling the tradition "crazy" with profanity. Judge Tjokorda Putra Budi Pastima stated that Zgraggen's conduct hurt the Balinese people's faith and provoked outrage, necessitating accountability.

Authorities located him in Legian after public complaints and detained him. During the trial, Zgraggen expressed remorse, saying he acted out of hunger and ignorance of the rules. While similar infractions have previously resulted in detention without prosecution, this case led to a formal conviction.