Gucci bag thief Bilal Kalache, of Sydney, has been released from a Bali jail

After four months in Bali’s Kerobokan jail for stealing a $1250 Gucci bag, Sydney man Bilal Kalache has walked free, sporting a bizarre purple towel disguise.

After four months in Bali’s Kerobokan jail for stealing a $1250 Gucci bag, Sydney man Bilal Kalache has been released.

The 43-year-old left Kerobokan jail today with a purple towel over his head, shielding his face, and assisted by a heavily-tattooed friend.

Kalache made no comment as Immigration officials escorted him from the jail and into a waiting car.

Like all foreigners who have completed their jail terms, Kalache will be deported from Indonesia and is expected to be on a flight later tonight back to Australia.

Bizarre disguise. Bilal Kalachemade no comment as officials escorted him from the jail and into a waiting car. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

“We have released the Australian inmate, Bilal Kalache today as he completed his sentence. He was picked up by Immigration for deportation,” Kerobokan jail governor, Tonny Nainggolan, said.

“During his time in prison, he was nice, normal. Nothing different to other inmates.”

Kalache, from Merrylands in Sydney, was arrested on January 10 this year for stealing a Gucci bag from a Bali duty free store, valued at $1250. The stolen bag was discovered inside the luggage of Kalache’s son at Bali airport, shortly before he was due to fly out to Sydney.

Kalache, who was on a family holiday at the time, had earlier been at the duty free store with his son and a friend where he paid for a black Gucci bag and a pair of Cartier sunglasses but did not pay for the beige-coloured Gucci bag.

He spent four months in Bali’s Kerobokan jail for stealing a $1250 Gucci bag. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

At his trial, in Denpasar District Court, evidence was heard that there had been an altercation with shop staff and that at one stage Kalache had gone behind the counter and used the shop computer himself to input the information to pay for the black bag.

During his trial, where Kalache represented himself, he initially denied stealing the bag, saying the store owner told him he could pay for it at the airport later.

He also claimed he had “forgot” to pay for the bag because shop staff had asked him and his party to leave the store.

He was picked up by Indonesia's immigration to deported him to Australia immediately. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

In court, Kalache apologised for his crime.

“At the end of the day it was my fault. It was my mistake, you know what I mean and I apologise for it, you know what I mean. At the end of the day it is my responsibility … I am very sorry, very very sorry … I learned the hard way … I apologise, if I offended anyone I am very sorry,” he said.

Prosecutors had demanded that Kalache be jailed for five months for his crime. In the end the court sentenced him to four months, which expired today.

He is expected to be banned from returning to Indonesia for the next six months.