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Two popular Bali nightspots are embroiled in a hidden camera scandal and hundreds, if not thousands of men – including many Australians – have had their privacy violated.
A sexual predator is stalking tourist hotspots and using a hidden camera to covertly record male patrons in bathrooms as they urinate, and some while defecating.
A news.com.au investigation can reveal thousands of obscene and graphic images and videos are being distributed via the encrypted messaging service Telegram, where hordes of subscribers pay hundreds of dollars each for access.
Among the countless victims secretly recorded are two professional football players, both of whom were recently in Bali on end-of-season holidays.
When contacted by an account purporting to be an interested customer, the man promoted 11 different private channels, collectively containing more than 8300 images and videos.
He has posted on several occasions about ‘special’ content involving the footballers, suggesting there are more high-profile victims than the two identified by news.com.au.
News.com.au has discovered at least two current players, who are graphically shown urinating. Their respective clubs have been contacted and news.com.au has chosen not to reveal their names.
Hundreds, potentially thousands of other men have also been filmed without their knowledge.
Do you know more? Email shannon.molloy@news.com.au
The venues frequented by the pervert are FINNS Beach Club in Canggu and nearby bar Old Man’s – both popular haunts for hordes of Aussie tourists, including professional athletes.
FINNS is a sprawling party hotspot that sits beachside and has pools, multiple bars, several lounge areas, a restaurant, and VIP spaces.
It plays host to popular special events throughout the year and is preparing to stage “Bali’s hottest New Year’s Eve” party, featuring iconic DJ Fatboy Slim.
FINNS was co-founded by former Sydney Swans star Tony Smith, who moved to Bali in 2009 with his family and joined forces with local business identity Ketut Subina.
The venue’s management and Mr Smith did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
Old Man’s is just down the road and bills itself as “the most iconic beachfront venue in Bali”, providing a chilled beer garden-style atmosphere by day and a pumping nightclub vibe at night.
It’s owned by another Aussie expat, former fashion mogul Sean Cosgrove who founded streetwear brand Mooks. Mr Cosgrove also owns popular Bali eatery Petitenget.
Old Man’s has a staggering capacity of 3500 patrons who party until the early hours, fuelled by in-demand local and international DJs and cheap drinks.
Management did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
The news.com.au investigation has now sparked an urgent police probe in Indonesia, assisted by Australian authorities.
The man stalking the bathrooms of both venues has snapped thousands of photographs and videos over several months.
FINNS is identifiable by its distinctive colour scheme as well as signage on digital promotional screens above the urinals, featuring its branding. Old Man’s was revealed as the second venue thanks to its toilet’s dark marble decor and massive red-framed mirror.
A public promotional Telegram channel was created on October 6 after a previous profile used by the man to distribute similar images was deleted for posting pornographic content.
In a little over two months, that new account has shared countless explicit images and videos – several hundred at least, but likely more – with the creator boasting about his ability to capture “straight hotties”.
More than 8560 people follow its updates, with at least a dozen new victims exposed each day.
The man behind the deviant endeavour manages several private channels, accessible when subscribers pay up to $275 for “VIP access” to full-length and uncensored content.
Those channels are categorised by themes – beach club patrons, nightclub patrons, men who are defecating, and “straight bait” – or unwitting social media users who have been catfished and tricked into sending nude photos and videos.
In one, the man has covertly recorded a number of victims while they shower. That location is so far unknown.
The volume of vulgar content shared is “harrowing” and difficult to comprehend, a leading advocate said.
“It’s absolutely devastating for these men and the sheer scale of it only adds to that devastation,” abuse campaigner Harrison James said.
“This is a total breach of personal space and boundaries. People go to the bathroom to do their business. They shouldn’t be violated.
“Given this has happened in nightclub settings, I suspect some of the men are intoxicated, adding an extra level of vulnerability.
“This person is preying on people in vulnerable settings. It’s disgusting.”
Mr James, who founded the acclaimed Your Reference Ain’t Relevant campaign, encouraged anyone who thinks they might be a victim to come forward.
“Men, like any other victims, deserve empathy and support when they endure violations. They don’t need to suffer in silence.”
The Bali predator is so brazen that he shares “testimonials” from happy customers, which all make for sinister reading.
“That one guy was so drunk he could barely stand up!” one writes.
Another remarks: “This great stuff will take ages to watch.”
“Wow amazing upload from the beach club! So many hot guys and that one lad with the massive one [love heart eyes emoji],” one reads.
Another offers: “If I can help, more than happy to lend a hand.”
“Keep em coming,” one subscriber urges.
The testimonials stretch back to January this year, suggesting the predator has been operating for some time.
Responses sent by the man to subscribers, viewed by news.com.au, indicate English is not his first language, providing a potential clue to his identity.
A spokesperson for the Australian Federal Police told news.com.au: “The AFP is aware of the account and has referred the matter to the Indonesian National Police. As it is an ongoing investigation no further comment will be made at this time.”
In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it “stands ready” to provide any required consular assistance to affected Aussies in Bali.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Australian Federal Police are liaising closely with Indonesian authorities regarding this matter,” a spokesperson said.
More than one million Australians travel to Bali each year, comprising for the largest share of all foreign nationals spending time on the Indonesian island.
In the busy month of March alone, some 260,000 Aussies spent time there.
Bali is a particularly popular destination for sportspeople, who spend downtime between seasons in heaving hotspots like Kuta, Canggu and Seminyak.
One regular visitor from Australia, who asked not to be identified, was sent the Telegram channel by a concerned friend.
“It’s absolutely shocking the way these people have been violated,” he said. “It’s abhorrent to think this sort of thing can happen when you’re simply out for a good time.”
A spokesperson for Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said the sharing of intimate visual content without the consent of the person depicted constituted image-based abuse.
“It includes pictures or videos where someone is naked or partly naked or involved in a private activity, such as using the toilet or showering,” the spokesperson said.
“The eSafety Commissioner can help if a person is the victim of image-based abuse and we encourage Australians experiencing it to report it to eSafety.gov.au/report.
“As part of our powers, we can require platforms to remove this content when it is reported to us by the person targeted or someone authorised to make a report on their behalf.
“If you have been targeted, please don’t go through this alone but seek support from people you trust or from a 24/7 support service, like Lifeline or Beyond Blue.”
Telegram was contacted for comment for this story.
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