London: An Australian man who was allegedly seen on CCTV spitting in the face of an Indonesian imam could serve more than a year in prison.
On social media in the nation, footage allegedly of Brenton Craig Abbas Abdullah McArthur has gone viral. He is seen approaching Basri Anwar, an imam at a mosque in Bandung, and striking up a conversation with him before it appears as though he spat at him.
Then, as McArthur exits the mosque while sporting a baseball cap, Anwar is seen scurrying off.
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McArthur, a native of Perth, Western Australia, whose visa had expired, was apprehended at Soekarno-Hatta Airport while attempting to board a flight home, according to the police.
Local police chief in Bandung, Budi Sartono, stated: "We immediately requested immigration to stop him and cancel his departure from the country.
He was picked up at the airport by us right away, and we took him to the Bandung police station to question him.
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According to Kumparan, a local media outlet, McArthur was charged with "unpleasant acts and insults," which carries a maximum 14-month prison sentence, and was escorted to the police station by Australian consular officials.
He denied any wrongdoing on Instagram and claimed he had been the victim of racism.
Stop crying all your racist tears, McArthur commanded. I'm a Muslim, and this threat against a bule (an Indonesian term for a foreigner) and cowardice are just racist.
Anwar claimed to a news outlet in Indonesia that he thought McArthur was "disturbed" by the Qur'an being recited aloud.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia said it was prepared to offer consular support to an Australian man being held in Indonesia.