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A Swiss tourist sentenced to a year behind bars in Bali after disobeying rules surrounding the island's sacred Day of Silence has revealed why he did it and whether he regrets his actions.
As previously reported, Luzian Andrin Zgraggen, 26, was sentenced by a court on the Indonesian resort island after being found guilty of insulting the Balinese Hindu observance.
The case stemmed from a video the tourist shared on social media after going outside during Nyepi, when residents and visitors are required to remain indoors and are encouraged to stay silent and meditate.
Nyepi, also known as the Day of Silence, marks the Balinese Hindu New Year and usually takes place in March.
The observance lasts for 24 hours, beginning at 6am and continuing until 6am the following day, and is dedicated to silence, meditation, and self-reflection.
For that period, Bali comes to a standstill as businesses and restaurants close, the island's airport shuts down, and residents and tourists are expected to remain indoors.
Internet access is also switched off, while restrictions are placed on electricity in some areas.
The rules apply to everyone regardless of religion or nationality.
Bali's busy streets and famous beaches are left empty, with security officers known as Pecalang patrolling communities to ensure the restrictions are followed.
Hotels and resorts usually warn visitors about Nyepi beforehand and arrange activities that can take place inside their properties.
While foreign and domestic tourists have previously been detained for going outside during the observance, those cases have usually been resolved without prosecution.
Despite staff at the villa where he was staying informing him about the restrictions, Zgraggen posted messages about Nyepi and shared footage of himself outside during the observance.
In clips shared online, he smiled at the camera while describing his walk to a beach during the observance.
In one video, he described the tradition as "crazy" and used an expletive.
His posts were widely reposted on social media, prompting condemnation from Balinese residents who considered his behavior disrespectful.
Following public complaints, police tracked the tourist down and arrested him at a villa in Legian, a popular tourist destination near Kuta Beach.
During his court hearing, Zgraggen explained what had led to his actions, saying he filmed the video after becoming hungry and frustrated when he was unable to find food during the shutdown.
He also said he had not fully understood the extent of the restrictions and insisted that he never intended to insult the Balinese people or the Hindu holiday.
Addressing his actions in his defense plea, Zgraggen made his feelings clear.
"I deeply regret what I did, I apologize to the Balinese people," he said, per NBC Philadelphia.
Despite his apology, presiding judge Tjokorda Putra Budi Pastima said Zgraggen's actions had caused offense to people on the island.
"What the defendant did offended the Balinese people, hurt their faith and provoked public outrage," the judge said. "The defendant must be held accountable for his actions."
The court ultimately sentenced Zgraggen to one year in prison under Indonesia's new criminal code.
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