DENPASAR, Bali — A Swiss tourist has been sentenced to one year in prison by the Denpasar District Court after being found guilty of insulting Bali’s sacred Nyepi observance through social media posts.

Luzian Andrin Zgraggen, 26, was convicted under Article 301 paragraph (1) of Indonesia’s new Criminal Code after posting videos showing himself outside during Nyepi, despite being informed about the island-wide restrictions.

The court found that Zgraggen posted the content even after staff at the villa where he was staying explained the rules.

Presiding judge Tjokorda Putra Budi Pastima said the defendant’s actions had offended Balinese people, hurt their faith and triggered public outrage.

The videos were widely shared on social media. In one clip, Zgraggen was seen walking toward a beach during Nyepi. He described the tradition as “crazy” and used an expletive while discussing the restrictions.

Authorities later tracked him down following public complaints and arrested him at a villa in Legian, near Kuta.

During his trial, which began in June, Zgraggen said he had never intended to insult Nyepi or the Balinese people. He told the court that he had been hungry and frustrated because he could not obtain food during the 24-hour shutdown.

He also said he had not fully understood the extent of the restrictions.

“I deeply regret what I did, I apologize to the Balinese people,” Zgraggen said in his defense plea.

Nyepi, or the Balinese Day of Silence, marks the Hindu New Year according to the Balinese Saka calendar. For 24 hours, normal activity across Bali comes to a halt.

Residents and visitors are required to remain indoors, while roads and public spaces become largely empty. Businesses close and Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport suspends operations during the observance.

The restrictions apply to everyone on the island, regardless of religion or nationality.

Prosecutors had sought a sentence of one year and three months in prison. Zgraggen was ultimately sentenced to one year.