An Aussie man who went viral claiming to be a self-made millionaire thanks to his property investments in Bali has been banned from Indonesia as authorities say he owns nothing on the island.
But Julian Petroulas, 33, insists he has lease rights to 1.1 hectares of land, as well as a popular restaurant in Bali, and that the country’s immigration officials wrongly excluded him.
Mr Petroulas has amassed thousands of followers on social media with posts showcasing his luxurious lifestyle on the holiday island. He is currently based in Dubai.
“I’ve owned a lot of villas here in Bali over the years,” he said in a video posted to YouTube earlier this year, titled “how to make MILLIONS of dollars in Bali.”
‘I started investing here a few years ago and it really was a gold mine.’
Later in the video, Mr Petroulas showed off a jungle-covered plot of land and described it as ‘my biggest land purchase ever – 1.1 hectares, it’s absolutely bloody crazy’.
He also showed viewers his lavish eatery in Canggu, called Penny Lane, adding that “this restaurant, in Bali of all places, is actually making millions of dollars a year.”
But the Indonesian government has soured on Mr Petroulas after learning of the videos and local press coverage of them.
Julian Petroulas, 33, has amassed thousands of followers on social media with posts showing his chic life on the holiday island
Mr Petroulas insists he owns leasehold rights to 1.1 hectares of land, as well as a restaurant in Bali
Indonesia’s Directorate General of Immigration told Daily Mail Australia this week that it had denied Mr Petrolulas entry into the country.
The immigration department said it had refuted his claims that he owned 1.1 hectares of land on the island, as well as a restaurant called Penny Lane in Canggu.
Acting Director General of Immigration Saffar M. Godam said Mr Petroulas’ videos had the potential to damage Indonesia’s image as an investment destination.
“This kind of content can create a negative perception among foreign investors,” he said.
“Investors will think twice about investing in Indonesia if a lot of incorrect information is spread.”
Mr Godam said that on this basis Mr Petroulas has been blacklisted and ‘will no longer be able to enter Indonesia’.
“We hope that this case can be a warning to other foreigners to always adhere to the rules in force in Indonesia.”
Petroulas told Daily Mail Australia on Saturday he owned the leasehold rights to 1.1 hectares of land and the Penny Lane restaurant on another part of the island.
Saffar M. Godam said Mr. Petroulas’ videos had the potential to damage Indonesia’s image as an investment destination.
Only Indonesians can buy land in Bali, while foreigners can take out a long-term lease, usually of 20 to 30 years.
Mr Petroulas said the problems started when he filed a lawsuit in a Balinese court against the Frenchman who sold him the 1.1 hectares, alleging breach of contract.
Since then, negative articles about him had surfaced in the local press, which his lawyers said were part of a “campaign of retaliation.”
The unsubstantiated claims in Balinese media had prompted an “emotional response” from the government, Petroulas said.
The Indonesian government never contacted him to verify his ownership rights before the ban.
“The escalation into immigration and the subsequent ban are both shocking and disappointing,” he said.
“This ban sends a worrying message to foreign investors and entrepreneurs who have followed the law and contributed significantly to the Indonesian economy.
“I hope the authorities will carefully assess the facts and reconsider their actions in light of the evidence, because everything I have done in Indonesia is 100 percent legal and by the books.”
Penny Lane confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that Mr Pertroulas did indeed own the restaurant.
“He is not involved in the day-to-day operations as he lives in the UAE, but he has an interest in the company as a shareholder. We hope that the government will rectify this quickly.’