The War on Porn Regular Updates about the Assault on The Adult Industry
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BALI, Indonesia — Three tourists have been arrested in Bali after local police accused them of filming pornographic content on the island.
A 23-year-old French woman, identified as Melisa Mireille Jeanine, was arrested on March 13 alongside a 24-year-old Italian man, reported as Nadir ben Said, as the pair attempted to leave Indonesia through Denpasar airport en route to Thailand.
Another man, a 26-year-old French national known only as ERB, was arrested in Canggu, Bali, on Monday. Police described him as the woman’s “manager.”
Police chief Joseph Edward Purba of Bali’s Badung district said the trio were being held on suspicion of creating and distributing pornographic content for profit.
A 23-year-old French woman, Melisa Mireille Jeanine, was arrested alongside two men.
The trio were accused by Bali police of making pornographic content.
“Their motivation to do the (alleged) crime is seeking profit from pornographic video content,” Purba told a press conference on Tuesday.
“All the three suspects are now facing Indonesian electronic information and transaction laws for making and spreading the content.”
Purba said police seized three mobile phones, a camera, a MacBook laptop and a motorcycle taxi vest from the suspects.
Pornographic content is illegal in Indonesia, and those convicted can face up to 10 years in prison on pornography charges, along with an additional six years for online distribution.
Although Bali is predominantly Hindu, Indonesia is a Muslim-majority country with strict laws regarding pornography.
On January 2, Indonesia implemented a new Criminal Code that introduced and revised laws criminalizing premarital sex, cohabitation and public drunkenness.
Under the code, adultery, premarital sex and cohabitation can carry penalties ranging from six months to one year in prison.
Legal experts say these provisions require a formal complaint from certain parties before authorities can take action.
“These alleged crimes cannot be processed by the police without a complaint which can only be filed by the legal husband or wife, parents or children of the perpetrator,” said Retno Murni, a legal expert and founder of the People’s Law Centre.
“Therefore, foreign tourists cannot be arrested, raided, or prosecuted simply for staying or residing with a partner, unless there is a valid complaint from these parties.”
Murni added that tourists who follow local laws and customs have no reason for concern.
The arrests follow a separate case in December 2025 involving British adult content creator Bonnie Blue, who was detained and later deported from Bali.
The 26-year-old was subsequently barred from entering Indonesia for at least 10 years, according to immigration authorities.
During a press conference outside Bali’s Ngurah Rai Immigration Office, Immigration chief Heru Winarko said the British national and her team had violated the terms of their visas.
“They have misused the visa they have to make content in Bali,” Winarko said.
“They will be black-listed from entering Indonesia for at least 10 years (that) could be extended.”
The performer, whose real name is Tia Billinger, was arrested along with 17 male tourists during a raid at a studio in Badung, Bali.
Fourteen of the men, all Australian nationals, were released without charge while authorities continued their investigation into Billinger and three others.
After two days of interviews, Badung Police said they had not identified pornographic elements during the raid, and Billinger was released without charge.
Officials said those present at the studio told investigators they were participating in the production of reality show content.
