Two Aussies who own Pink Palace Spa arrested in Bali over prostitution links
One of two Aussies arrested alongside nine others in Bali over allegations of operating spas that offered prostitution services, is a survivor of the Bali Bombing. See photos and video.
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One of the two Australians arrested in Bali for operating a spa which allegedly offered prostitution services, is a Bali Bombing survivor.
Michael Le Grand, 50, and Lynley Le Grand, 44, both from Victoria, were arrested alongside others on Friday in relation to two establishments, the Pink Palace Spa and Flame Spa.
The latter allegedly has ties to former AFL star Ricky Olarenshaw.
Indonesian police held a press conference late on Friday where they revealed details of the arrests.
Footage shows the moment officers escorted 11 people who had been handcuffed from the detention centre at the headquarters of Bali Police in Denpasar.
Wearing orange prison uniforms and Covd-19 masks, police escorted them through a car park outside the police station to a media conference where they were then lined up in a row with their backs turned against cameras.
Police stood behind them as the Australian couple had their heads bowed as they were led away alongside the other suspects.
Five people were arrested at Flame Spa, while the Aussie couple, from Moonee Ponds and Mount Waverley in Melbourne, were two of six arrested at the Pink Palace Spa.
An underage massage therapist was also found to be working at the Pink Palace Spa, according to investigators.
Lynley is no stranger to Bali having been a university graduate, dancing the night away at Paddy’s Bar on October 12, 2002, when her life was forever changed.
The Bali bombing blast flung Lynley metres across the bar, as she and her three friends were dancing — only a metre away from the suicide bomber.
Lynley suffered burns to 30 per cent of her body. At the time, Lynley managed to get herself to safety thanks to a “guardian angel” Sevegne Newton, and was one of the first victims evacuated out for medical treatment in Australia.
Le Grand now calls Bali home, and has run restaurants including The Corner cafe and homes as part of the island’s tourist trade.
“Families have had to deal with losing somebody for twenty years and we have had to deal with building a life,” she said.
“We were young, we were 22 and that’s what I wanted my kids to always know. That you are judging by the culture and the people and somebody’s action does not necessarily define a country.
“Now it is time the island has some peace and is able to redevelop and get some tourism back in positive ways so the people here can grow and experience life without negativity.”
The arrested Australian couple now faces 12 years’ prison if found guilty.
Bali Police held up pieces of evidence collected from the spas after they conducted their raids. The Flame Spa in Seminyak has now been closed and the Pink Palace Spa in Kerobokan has also been shut down.
General crime director of Bali police, Ketut Suarnaya said: “Bali police have followed up on information from the community that there was prostitution being disguised as spa therapy in two separate places”.
Customers at Flame Spa were allegedly charged between $95 and $181, while customers at Pink Palace paid anywhere between $95 and $238, police said.
Pink Palace Spa allegedly made between $94,500-$286,000 per month, police said.
It comes after Essendon premiership star Ricky Olarenshaw left Bali amid claims he was a part owner of a spa allegedly caught up in the allegations.
His wife, influencer Sarnanitha, was arrested when police raided Flame Spa massage parlour last month.
Olarenshaw and his business partners were believed to have returned to Australia just before the raids took place.
It is not clear whether Olarenshaw or the other alleged owners had any knowledge of the goings-on at Flame.
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Originally published as Two Aussies who own Pink Palace Spa arrested in Bali over prostitution links
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