British woman sentenced to six months for slapping Indonesian airport official

A British woman has been sentenced to six months in prison for slapping an immigration officer on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali after missing her flight due to an expired visa.

Video showing Auj-e Taqaddas, who reportedly lives in London, purportedly swearing at and hitting an officer at Bali’s international airport was widely shared online last August.

She was sentenced on Wednesday by an Indonesian court. Taqaddas will appeal the decision.

The footage showed the 43-year-old throwing a lengthy tantrum after being asked to pay a fine of about £3,500 for overstaying her visa by more than 160 days. Authorities had initially granted her a month-long visa to be in the country.

Auj-e Taqaddas is escorted by investigators outside the Indonesian court. Credit: AP

Taqaddas was charged with violent behaviour against a government official.

A trial began in December. Taqaddas pleaded not guilty, claiming the video had been edited.

Following the sentencing, she claimed the court was corrupt and alleged that police had tortured her, including on the day of the trial.

The British National has been sentenced to six months in prison for allegedly slapping an airport immigration worker. Credit: AP

Taqaddas only came before a judge after she was arrested in a shopping mall after failing to appear in court several times.

As two officials escorted her from court, she shouted: “Indonesia is a criminal country. Indonesian law is corrupt. Indonesian judges are corrupt. No lawyer was provided. Indonesian immigration is corrupt.”

In a statement, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed: “We are offering support to a British woman in Bali, and are in contact with the Indonesian authorities about her case.”