Another attempt to chase hype by disrespecting local traditions has landed a foreign tourist in a cell at Bali’s remand centre.
Swiss citizen Luzian Andrin Zgraggen, known online as @luzzysun, has officially been named a suspect in a case involving insulting religion and inciting hatred.
The scandal began during the Nyepi celebrations (the Day of Silence). As the island sank into meditation and calm, Luzian posted an Instagram story showing an empty street, adding profanity:
“The Day of Silence, when you can’t go outside in Bali — it’s pretty quiet out there :). To hell with [f...ck] Nyepi, and to hell with your rules too,” the tourist wrote.
The post immediately spread across local pages, sparking outrage among Balinese people. Bali police’s cyber unit and prominent public figures on the island reacted quickly, including Senator Niluh Djelantik, who is known for her uncompromising stance towards those who break Bali’s cultural code.
The tourist’s arrest looked like something out of an action film. After identifying the account owner, officers from Subdit III Ditressiber Polda Bali began tracking his location. Operatives kept the Swiss man under covert surveillance, following his route from Kuta to Ubud to Mengwi.
On the evening of 20 March, when it became clear that the offender was heading to Niluh Djelantik’s residence (apparently to try to justify himself after the public backlash), police made the arrest. Afterwards, in Niluh’s presence and on camera, the foreigner did express remorse and even addressed the Balinese people he had offended. But it was already too late…
Bali police charged Luzian under Indonesia’s new Criminal Code (Law No. 1 of 2023). In particular, he is accused of violating Article 301(1) for distributing content with criminal intent via information technology, and Article 300(b) for publicly expressing hatred or hostility on religious grounds.
Under these articles, the Swiss national faces up to 5 years in prison, a fine of up to 500 million Indonesian rupiah (around $31,500), as well as a lifetime ban on entering Indonesia after serving his sentence. At present, Luzian is being held in the remand centre (Rutan) at Polda Bali, and his iPhone 16 and access to his Instagram account have been seized as evidence.
This case once again confirms that digital hygiene and respect for local laws in Bali in 2026 have become a matter of survival. The island’s police now work closely with influencers and respond instantly to any sign of disrespect towards traditions.
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