23 May 2017

Indonesian Police Arrest 141 Over ‘Gay Sex Party

Late-night raid at a sauna in Indonesian capital Jakarta

Some 141 men, including a Briton and Singaporean, were arrested at a gay sauna in Jakarta on Sunday night.

Although homosexuality is not illegal, except in Aceh province, the men could face charges under Indonesia’s vaguely-worded but harsh anti-pornography laws, Jakarta police spokesperson Raden Argo Yuwono told the BBC.

"There were gay people who were caught strip-teasing and masturbating in the scene," he told BBC Indonesian, adding this could be construed as “pornography.”

He also said that at the men had $14 to attend the sauna.

Last week, two men were sentenced to public caning in Aceh after being convicted for engaging in gay sex - in the first such ruling since tough anti-homosexuality laws were introduced there in 2014.