Tourist’s bizarre act in Bali

Bali police have been forced to speak out to clarify local rules after witnessing tourists performing some rather unusual acts.

Bali police have reminded tourists of the rules of police escorts following a viral video. Picture: Instagram

Bali police have been forced to speak out to clarify local rules after witnessing tourists performing some bizarre acts.

The move came after a video went viral on social media showing a tourist following a police escort through the streets of the popular island paradise.

As he remained closely behind the police officer on a motorbike, the traveller can be heard saying “go faster, it’s not like we’re going to get pulled over” and laughing.

The man had also bragged to his social media followers about paying the police officer to escort him through the traffic in Bali.

“Best $100 ever spent?” he wrote in the video caption.

News.com.au does not suggest that the tourist engaged in any criminal act, nor does it suggest the tourist has engaged in any wrongdoing.

The Instagram footage, which was understood to have been posted at an earliwer time, resurfaced again this week and went viral again, prompting the police to issue their response.

Bali police have reminded tourists of the rules of police escorts following a viral video. Picture: Instagram

Bali police said the officer involved has been transferred from public duty - and it isn’t the first time this has happened.

“This member was transferred a long time ago and is no longer at Traffic Police because he had done the same thing before, but his leadership found out he didn’t report it,” Bali Police’s Kombes Panjaitan told the Bali Sun.

“He carried out surveillance, didn’t report it to his superiors, but that’s not this case.”

He said the video was carried out by the traffic police from I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport at night, and what happened in it broke protocol.

“The officer in question had been transferred out of the service some time ago for similar [conduct]; he was found to be carrying out escorts that did not comply with procedures and rules.”

However, he said escorts may be granted under some situations.

“The entire community has the right or can request an escort, but later the police will assess the request for escort, and it is usually made in writing well in advance to the local police unit. For example, at the police station.”

A policeman, not involved in any of the events described in the article, directs traffic. Picture: iStock

Panjaitan explained the situations where such an escort may be granted, such as when there is an urgency to the situation.

“You can also [request] verbally; maybe suddenly you want to go to the airport to meet the police and ask for help. ‘My plane is at 5pm, in 15 minutes. Can I please be escorted?’ That’s fine as long as the police think it’s appropriate, and there are no other duties?”

“For the procedure verbally, the officer is obliged to report to his superiors and transfer and document why he is carrying out the escort; there must be a reason.”

Under local law, there are five reasons why tourists may be granted a free police escort in Bali. They include an emergency, such as taking a sick person to the hospital or rushing to the airport if traffic is too busy. There’s also mandated security for state officials and state guests, along with at times of large weddings and ceremonies.

Another circumstance where it may be offered is to bring order to the public.