Ricky Olarenshaw’s wife Saranitha sentenced to seven months jail for running a Bali brothel

Ricky Olarenshaw’s estranged wife Saranitha and an Aussie couple have appeared before a Bali court on charges of running a brothel.

A former AFL star’s estranged wife broke down in tears saying she just wanted to “see her kids” after being sentenced to seven months jail for running a Bali brothel.

Ricky Olarenshaw’s ex-partner Saranitha was found guilty of offering sexual services at the Flame Spa in Bali.

The Instagram influencer and model had accused the Essendon premiership player of being the owner and operator of the brothel in court, which he has denied.

The sentence in Bali’s Denpasar District Court included time served, which means that Saranitha could be reunited with her children within two months.

When walking out of the court, Saranitha said: “I just want to see my kids.”

She had attended court with five of the female staff from the Flame Spa, who were convicted and who had also been detained in raids last year as part of a crackdown on prostitution in Bali.

Ricky Olarenshaw’s estranged wife Saranitha learned her fate in court.

Saranitha was sentenced to seven months jail.

A lawyer read out a statement on Saranitha’s behalf, saying she felt “a moral obligation to the other defendants and their families for what my husband did.”

“I hope your honour will give me a chance to carry out my responsibility as a mother to my children, who need mental support, especially since we have been abandoned.”

Judge Heriyanti addressed Saranitha by her full name, Ni Ketut Sri Astari Saranitha, finding her “legally and convincingly proven guilty providing pornography services.”

“(I am) sentencing the defendant to seven months imprisonment, minus the time that has been served in jail,” Judge Heriyanti said on Thursday.

The court found Saranitha and all suspects guilty for violating article 55 of Indonesia’s criminal code, which bans pornography and prostitution.

The sentence was lighter than the nine-month imprisonment that prosecutors had demanded and well short of the 12-year maximum sentence.

Judge Heriyanti said Saranitha’s action was “disturbing as it has tarnished the image of Bali tourism.”

“The defendant has admitted her act and feels regret, and the defendant has promised to not repeat her act again,” she said.

“The defendants have never been convicted (of another crime).”

Saranitha had accused the Essendon premiership player of being the owner and operator of the brothel, which he has denied.

It came as Australian couple Michael and Lynley Le Grand were sentenced to seven months jail in Bali’s Denpasar Court on Thursday.

Michael, who turned 51 this week, and Lynley, 45, a Bali bombing survivor, will both have their time served considered as part of their sentence.

However, the couple were released at some points after their arrest in October last year to allow Michael, who complained of pancreatic cancer, to receive treatment.

Any time outside of prison for medical leave will not be counted towards their sentence.

Judge Heriyanti said, according to a translation of an earlier hearing, that “Michael Jerome Le Grand and Lynley Jane Le Grand have been legally and convincingly proven guilty of providing pornography services.

“(I am) sentencing the defendant Michael Jerome Le Grand and Lynley Jane Le Grand to seven months imprisonment, minus their time that have been served in jail.”

The couple, who have been long term Bali residents and own the GOAT bar and Corner restaurant in Seminyak, were charged under Indonesia’s anti-pornography laws.

Four of their staff were also found guilty as part of the same case.

Their sentences were mitigated, Judge Heriyanti said, because they had made frank admissions and shown remorse.

“The defendants have regretted their act and promise not to repeat it again,” Judge Heriyanti said.

Olarenshaw, who isn’t charged with any wrongdoing, declined to comment when approached this week.

Originally published as Ricky Olarenshaw’s wife Saranitha sentenced to seven months jail for running a Bali brothel