Bali police launch manhunt for Aussie tourist over public sex act on North Kuta street

A manhunt is underway in Bali after an Australian tourist was filmed engaging in a lewd outdoor sex act.

Police from Tibubeneg Village in the island’s North Kuta region have launched an appeal to the community after the unknown traveller was caught having public sex with a woman outside a home on Saturday night.

The pair were spotted mid-act by the woman who owned the property as she walking to attend prayers that evening.

Upon spotting the couple, the distressed homeowner shouted at the pair to stop what they were doing — but the Aussie and his unidentified friend continued.

Nearby CCTV confirmed that the couple had engaged in the act for 15 minutes before they were seen “casually” walking away from the property.

North Kuta Police chief I Ketut Sukadan said Indonesian police have since identified the Australian man and the search for him was ongoing.

“He is still being sought with ongoing coordination with immigration authorities,” he told local media.

In Balinese tradition, public sexual activity is believed to bring negative energy to a home.

Due to this belief, the homeowner who caught the pair during the act reportedly carried out a Hindu ceremony after the incident to cleanse her home.

“The incident acts have the potential to cause public concern,” Mr Sukadana said.

“Particularly among the residents of Tibubeneng, and it may negatively affect the image of security and tourism in the North Kuta area if the matter is not addressed and handled seriously by taking firm action against the perpetrators, whether under local customary law or national law.”

If the Australian is charged, he could face up to 18 months in prison for committing an obscene act in public.

The act of public indecency comes months after the Indonesian tourist hotspot enacted a slew of laws to crack down on poor behaviours.

The revision to Indonesia’s criminal code — introduced by the nation’s parliament in 2022 and implemented in early January — sees new penalties for cohabitation, adultery and sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman.

Despite the changes, Indonesian Minister of Law Yasonna Laoly said the laws would only be used against tourists if a direct family member files an official complaint to authorities.

“It’s impossible for the police to arrest unless there is a complaint,” he said. “That’s from the closest family, children, husband, wife.

“Private matters are not our interference and at the same time we have to maintain our Indonesian values.”

Other changes under the new laws include bans on black magic, insulting the president or state institutions, spreading views counter to state ideology and staging protests without notification.