Australian couple accused of running Bali brothel have detention postponed

An Australian couple has been held in a Bali prison since last October, with police stating their detention has been "postponed" amid controversy following media reports that they had been granted bail.

Michael Legrand, 50, and Lindley Legrand, 44, are being held by police for allegedly violating Indonesian laws prohibiting prostitution. Investigators also claimed last year that a staff member was underage when they raided the couple’s massage spa business, potentially leading to charges under the country’s child protection laws. If convicted of prostitution charges, the couple faces a maximum of 12 years in prison.

Last week, their case was supposed to be formally handed over to prosecutors to move to the court hearing stage, but a police spokesperson said the process was delayed due to Mr. Legrand’s poor health. Now, police have stated that the couple's detention has been postponed while Mr. Legrand receives cancer treatment at Trijata Police Hospital in Bali. Ms. Legrand has been allowed to accompany him. However, the spokesperson emphasized that the couple has not been granted bail, as reported by The Courier-Mail.

Their lawyer, Jhonio Raharjo, told the ABC that the report falsely claimed the couple had paid a large sum of money to secure bail and said they intend to take legal action over The Courier-Mail’s report. A Bali police spokesperson also denied the reports of a payment. Bali police told the ABC that the decision to postpone the couple’s detention in prison was made on humanitarian grounds.

The “Pink Palace” spa was described as a “sanctuary of serene relaxation” on its Instagram account, but ceased operations after being raided in October. The couple also owns other businesses in Bali, including the GOAT Seminyak sports bar and a popular cafe. The couple’s three children returned to Australia after the arrests. The October raid was part of a wider crackdown on suspected prostitution venues, which also targeted another spa business majority-owned by the estranged wife of former Australian AFL player Ricky Olarenshaw.

Sananita, also known as Nisa, lost a court bid to be released last November after claiming she was only the face of the business. She argued that the business was actually co-owned by four Australian men, including her former husband. Mr. Olarenshaw told Nine News on the Gold Coast in November that much of the reporting on the case was “false and inaccurate” and called it a “complex and delicate situation.” If convicted, Sananita faces at least 12 years in prison.