Delay in Ricky Olarenshaw’s estranged wife Nitha’s Bali brothel court case
A Bali judge has made an unexpected call during the court case for Ricky Olarenshaw’s estranged wife Nitha, who is facing up to 12 years jail if convicted over allegations she ran a brothel.
Ricky Olarenshaw’s estranged wife Nitha will be forced to wait another two days to find out if she will spend 12 years in jail for allegedly running a Bali brothel.
A judge at Bali’s Denpasar District Court adjourned her case in a short hearing on Tuesday.
Nitha, who shares a child with the former Essendon premiership player, had prayed for her freedom before her court appearance over allegedly offering sexual services at the Flame Spa in Seminyak.
She will now have her sentence handed down on Thursday - the same day as middle class Melbourne couple Michael and Lynley Le Grand who admitted in court they ran a brothel at the Pink Palace Spa in Bali.
All three were charged under Indonesia’s strict pornography laws, which make prostitution illegal.
Presiding Judge Heriyanti said, according to a translation of Nitha’s hearing, that “there are several things that we need to consider. We will read out the verdict on Thursday, March 6, 2025.”
Speaking outside Bali’s Denpasar District Court, Nitha said she was hoping for her “freedom” as she arrived to hear her fate.
She then clarified and said “our freedom” as she was directed into court alongside some of her staff from Flame Spa who were also arrested in raids last year.
Nitha has previously told the court that she was an unwitting victim in her former husband’s brothel, which Bali police claim was operating from the Flame Spa in Seminyak.
Police raided the spa, which still states on its website that “our therapists are specially trained in the art of sensual massage, capturing your sexual energy.”
It also promised therapists were “skilful, discreet and exotic”.
Nitha claimed in court last week that Olarenshaw, and three Australian men were the real owners of the brothel, claiming she was duped.
“I wish he was here and faced the same things that I am facing (along) with my other staff,” she said last week.
Leaked WhatsApp messages from a number linked to Olarenshaw’s current mobile detailed how he had knowledge of “invite only” parties at Flame Spa.
Messages attributed to Olarenshaw also asked a worker about “which girl” a patron booked because his “friend wanted to book her”.
There were also messages with photographs of potential therapists who were seeking work at the Flame Spa.
Olarenshaw has denied any wrongdoing and he is not charged with anything, with sources close to him claiming Flame Spa operated as a bar.
Lynley and Michael Le Grand last week admitted they had run a brothel, with a prosecutor seeking a nine-month sentence including time served.
The couple, who have three children, may be released from jail as early as June if a judge accepts the prosecution recommendation.
Sources in Bali claimed that Nitha was hoping for a similar or shorter length in sentence.
Nitha and Olarenshaw split more than a year before she was arrested, with her family caring for the couple’s daughter.
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Originally published as Delay in Ricky Olarenshaw’s estranged wife Nitha’s Bali brothel court case