Authorities in Bali have detained a British sex worker and more than a dozen male tourists, predominantly from Australia, on suspicion of creating pornographic material in violation of Indonesia's stringent morality laws.
Raid and Arrests in Badung
Bonnie Blue, whose legal name is Tia Billinger, was arrested alongside 17 men aged between 19 and 40 during a police operation on Thursday afternoon. The raid targeted a studio in the Badung regency of the popular holiday island.
Officers seized a significant cache of evidence, including multiple cameras, 19 outfits labelled 'School Bonnie Blue', a quantity of condoms and lubricant, and nine pink necklaces. Also confiscated were flash drives, two sheets of Viagra pills—some reportedly used—and Bonnie's distinctive 'Bangbus' utility truck along with its ownership certificate.
Investigation and Release of Australian Men
Badung Police Chief Arif Batubara stated the arrests followed a tip-off from a member of the public concerning 'suspected pornography or the creation of indecent video material'. Pornography is entirely banned in Indonesia, with convictions carrying severe penalties of fines and imprisonment. Sex work is also officially deemed a crime against morality.
In a development on Friday, 14 of the detained men, all Australian nationals, were released from police custody without charge. Chief Batubara explained they were freed as witnesses after clarification with immigration officials, stating they 'do not meet the criteria for further suspicion' as the probe continues.
However, Bonnie Blue and three British men remain under investigation and are being questioned at Badung police station. None of the four have been formally charged. Police said the British nationals claimed they were merely part of a foreign community gathering at the studio, with some identifying as influencers or content creators.
Controversial 'Bangbus' and Past Visa Ban
The arrest follows confirmation from Bali police to the Daily Mail that Bonnie's repainted 'Bangbus' vehicle was not legally compliant. Government documents show the ute was registered as white but had been resprayed dark blue—a modification visible in her online posts. Furthermore, the vehicle's tax expired in 2023. Under Indonesian law, a colour mismatch can result in a fine or up to two months in prison.
Bonnie had been using the locally purchased truck to travel to party hotspots during Bali's Schoolies week, documenting her journeys online. In recent vlogs, she was seen at venues like Seminyak's Motel Mexicola and official Schoolies events, encouraging teenagers and joking about 'picking your sons up'.
This incident echoes a previous controversy where Bonnie was banned from entering Australia last year. Her visa was cancelled after she publicly outlined plans to create explicit content with 18-year-olds during Gold Coast Schoolies celebrations. A public petition gathered tens of thousands of signatures opposing her entry, leading the Department of Home Affairs to rule her intended activities amounted to conducting business on a tourist visa, triggering a multi-year re-entry ban.
The situation underscores the stark clash between Indonesia's strict legal codes and the activities of some foreign visitors on the island, serving as a potent reminder of the severe consequences of violating local laws.
