An Australian entrepreneur who boasted about making millions from his Bali property investments says he has been the target of a smear campaign after claims emerged he had been banned from Indonesia and that he didn’t own any houses.
Julian Petroulas, 33, insists he holds the leasehold rights to 1.1 hectares of land in Indonesia, as well as a popular restaurant, and that the country’s immigration officials have unfairly barred him.
Mr Petroulas is understood to have acquired the leasehold rights to the land over a year ago from a French citizen.
He is currently engaged in a lawsuit against the individual who sold him the leasehold rights to the property.
Filed in the Denpasar District Court, the lawsuit alleges breaches of contract and ethical violations in the transaction.
Following the filing of the lawsuit, several negative media articles targeting Mr Petroulas have surfaced. His legal team suspects these publications are part of a retaliatory smear campaign.
‘We find the timing of these articles suspicious and believe they are intended to damage Julian’s reputation during this legal dispute,’ his legal counsel stated.
Julian Petroulas, 33, has garnered thousands of followers on social media with posts showing off his ritzy life on the holiday island
Mr Petroulas insists he does hold the leasehold rights to 1.1 hectares of land, as well as whimsical eatery Penny Lane in Canggu
Addressing allegations of immigration violations, Mr Petroulas confirmed he uses a valid Visa on Arrival (VOA) during his visits to Bali.
According to his legal counsel, he uses the visa solely for short visits to oversee his investments.
Mr Petroulas resides permanently in Dubai, not Indonesia, and does not physically manage or conduct any business operations in Bali, making his VOA a legitimate means of entry for his purposes.
‘I have always respected Indonesian laws and customs and will continue to do so,’ he said.
‘These allegations are baseless, and I am confident the truth will prevail.’
Mr Petroulas has garnered thousands of followers on social media with posts showing off his luxury lifestyle on the holiday island.
‘I’ve owned a lot of villas here in Bali over the last few years,’ he said in one 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 was honestly a gold mine.’
Later in the video, Mr Petroulas showed off a jungle-covered piece of land, describing it as ‘my biggest land purchase ever – 1.1 hectares, it’s absolutely f***ing nuts’.
He also showed viewers his lavish eatery in Canggu, called Penny Lane, adding that ‘this restaurant, in Bali of all places, actually makes millions of dollars per year’.
But the Indonesian government has soured on Mr Petroulas after becoming aware of the videos and coverage about them in the local press.
Saffar M. Godam said Mr Petroulas’ videos had the potential to damage Indonesia’s image as an investment destination
Mr Petroulas who is based in Dubai maintains he owns leaseholds and the ban is unfair
Indonesia’s Directorate General of Immigration told Daily Mail Australia this week that it had banned Mr Petroulas from entering the country.
Mr Petroulas told Daily Mail Australia on Saturday he did own the leasehold rights to 1.1 hectares of land, and the restaurant Penny Lane in another part of the island.
Mr Petroulas said the trouble started when he filed a lawsuit in a Balinese court against the French citizen who sold him the 1.1 hectares, alleging breach of contract.
Since then, negative articles had surfaced about him in the local press, which his lawyers believed were part of a ‘retaliatory smear campaign’.
The unfounded claims in the Balinese media had led to an ’emotional response’ from the government, Mr Petroulas said.
The Indonesian government never contacted him to verify his ownership rights before the ban.
‘The escalation to immigration and the subsequent ban are both shocking and disappointing,’ he said.
‘This ban sends a concerning message to foreign investors and entrepreneurs who have followed the law and contributed significantly to Indonesia’s economy.
‘I hope the authorities will carefully review the facts and reconsider their actions in light of the evidence, because everything I have done in Indonesia is 100 per cent 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 day to day operations as he lives in the UAE but owns a stake in the business as a shareholder, we hope that the government will rectify this quickly.’
