A Swiss national, Luzian Andrin Zgraggen, 26, has asked judges to hand down the most lenient sentence possible in a case involving alleged insult toward Bali’s sacred Day of Silence, Nyepi. The plea came through a written defense statement (pleidoi) after prosecutors sought a one-year, three-month prison sentence against him.
Defendant’s Statement to the Court
In his plea, Luzian said he did not fully understand the rules that apply during Nyepi in Bali, including the prohibition on outdoor activity. He maintained he never intended to insult the Nyepi holiday or Balinese society.
“I had heard of Nyepi, but I did not know that during the celebration, one is not allowed to leave the house. I never intended to insult Nyepi or the Balinese people,” he said before the panel of judges at Badung District Court on Friday, July 17, 2026.
“At that time, I simply felt hungry, frustrated, and emotional because there was no food available where I was staying. I also didn’t expect the post to spread so widely. I deeply regret my actions, I have apologized to the Balinese people, and I ask the panel of judges to impose the most lenient sentence possible,” he added.
What Happened
Luzian explained the incident occurred while he was vacationing in Bali. He said he became upset after being unable to obtain food at his accommodation during Nyepi. While hungry and emotional, he posted a video containing harsh language on his personal Instagram account.
According to the defendant, the post was not intended to insult Hindu practitioners or the Balinese community. He said he only wanted to vent to friends and did not anticipate the video would spread widely on social media.
The defendant said he voluntarily deleted the post. However, before deletion, the video had already been recorded and re-shared by others, eventually going viral.
Before the panel of judges, Luzian reiterated his remorse, saying he had apologized to the Balinese community and hoped the judges would consider his request for a reduced sentence.
Prosecution’s Case
Public Prosecutor Febrina Irlanda earlier argued the defendant was proven to have distributed content deemed insulting via electronic media, offending the feelings of Hindu practitioners in Bali. On that basis, prosecutors sought a one-year, three-month prison sentence against Luzian under Article 301, Paragraph (1) of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code (KUHP).
Background
According to the indictment, the case began while Luzian was staying at a hotel in the Legian area during his holiday in Bali. On the eve of Nyepi, he reportedly received an explanation from hotel staff regarding the rules in effect during the holiday. Despite this, frustrated at being unable to go out to find food, he posted a 22-second video that subsequently triggered public backlash and led to legal proceedings.