Police Investigate Viral Caucasians Sitting at the Temple of Tabanan Bali, Here Are the Findings

PIXABAY ILUSTRATION

DENPASAR - The Tabanan Police Team, Bali, investigated the viral photo of a foreign citizen (WNA) sitting in the Pelinggih at the Bang Teratai Temple, Candikuning Village, Baturiti District, Tabanan, Bali. The incident of Caucasians sitting on the temple grounds is said to have happened a long time ago.

"We (investigated), we immediately went down yesterday with the Polsek and we have investigated. The incident (estimated) has been quite long", said Tabanan Police Chief, AKBP Ranefli Dian Candra, Monday, October 3.

However, the identity of the foreigner/foreigner who sits in the shrine of Tabanan temple is not yet known. According to witnesses, the incident occurred about 5 months ago.

"We have not identified the incident and actually the incident took a long time because the witnesses we examined also said that there were several signs in this photo, it was estimated and suspected that it had been five months ago", he said.

As previously reported, a viral photo of a foreign national sitting on a temple shrine in the Bali Botanical Gardens area, Tabanan Regency, Bali. This incident occurred at the Bang Lotus Temple, Candikuning Village, Baturiti.

The photo of Caucasians sitting on the temple shrine was uploaded to the Instagram account @dreamchaser_travelling on Instagram. The foreigner's action was then criticized by netizens because it was considered not to respect the customs and Hindu religion adopted by the Balinese people.

Regarding the viral behavior of foreigners, the Secretary of the Bali Province, Dewa Made Indra, said that the foreigner was being sought by officers.

"Yes, it will definitely be (acted firmly). So, after meeting tourists who committed violations, it was investigated who was the travel agent, and who was the tour leader. They are being sought now", said Indra.

"Those who are deported are tourists. If the travel agent is here, yes, the sanctions will be given. Later (the sanctions will be given) after we know the level of the violation", he added.

The Bali Secretary regretted this incident because he had been repeatedly reminded that foreign tourists should respect the holy places in Bali.

"The governor (can) coordinate with the travel agent who handles it and directly communicates with the Regional Office of Law and Human Rights to be returned to his country of origin. So that's the strictest sanction", he said.