Indonesian Court Sentences British Woman to Prison for Slapping Immigration Officer, Reports Reuters

DENPASAR, Indonesia – An Indonesian court sentenced a British woman to six months in prison on Wednesday for slapping an immigration officer in the face during an argument regarding a fine for overstaying her visa in Bali.

Auj-e Taqaddas, 42, was found guilty of committing violence against a law enforcement officer at Bali’s airport while he was performing his duties, as stated by Judge Esthar Oktavi.

"The sentence is six months in prison," Oktavi communicated via text message. This penalty was less severe than the one-year sentence the prosecutor had sought following the incident that took place on July 28 of the previous year.

"This is an unfair decision… I was forcibly brought to court without being provided with legal representation," Taqaddas claimed, accusing the prosecutors of mistreatment and entrapping her in the country.

Both the judge and prosecutor noted that Taqaddas had filed an appeal against the ruling. Her court appearance had been delayed multiple times due to her illness and instances where authorities could not locate her after she checked out of her hotel.

A smartphone video of the incident went viral, showing an agitated Taqaddas shouting and using profanity at the immigration official before slapping him after a struggle to retrieve her passport.

Taqaddas had overstayed her visa by approximately 160 days and faced a fine of 300,000 rupiah (around $21.60) for each day, totaling about $3,500.

Bali is Indonesia’s primary tourist destination, welcoming millions of international visitors annually to its beaches, temples, and entertainment venues. While the majority of tourists enjoy their stay without issues, some occasionally encounter legal problems, particularly related to the country’s strict drug laws.