Influencer faces jail over raunchy Bali photo: 'I regret my actions'
A Russian influencer is looking at six years' jail time and a hefty fine after posing in a raunchy photoshoot under a sacred tree in Bali.
Instagram star Alina Yoga stood naked as she brushed up against the tree in the saucy photo, before sharing the controversial images online.
The Russian beauty – who has over 16,000 followers on Instagram – could be facing pornography charges after Balinese entrepreneur Niluh Djelantik caught sight of the images and called on the local authorities to intervene, according to reports.
Mr Djelantik said the tree is a 700-year-old weeping paperbark, known locally as kayu putih. It's located at Babakan Temple in the regency of Tabana.
As the giant tree is considered sacred to locals, the nude images caused outrage and Mr Djelantik said immigration officials were tracking down the influencer.
If convicted, she'll be hit with a $95,543 fine and six years in jail under the country’s harsh Information and Electronic Transactions Act (ITE), according to reports.
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'I regret my actions'
Alina reportedly deleted the controversial photos following the backlash and has since issued an apology in a video on her page.
"I apologise to all Balinese and Indonesian people, I regret my actions," she said in the video.
The apology was filmed at the sacred tree, but this time the star was fully clothed. She could be seen bowing down in front of the tree in prayer.
"I'm so embarrassed, I didn't mean to offend you in any way, absolutely no knowledge of this place," she continued.
"I just prayed under a tree and went straight to the police station to explain this incident and apologise."
Tabanan Police spokesperson Ranefli Dian Candra confirmed that Alina has turned herself over to the authorities and that the case will continue to be processed.
They did not mention what punishment she is likely to face.
- with Australscope
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