Major development after Aussie claimed he was scammed out of $6.2million in 'dodgy Bali land deal' and banned from the country

Daily Mail​

25-05-2025

An Australian influencer who claims he lost $6.2million in a 'dodgy land deal' in Bali before he was banned from the country says he has been allowed back in.
Julian Petroulas, 32, said he had purchased the leasehold rights to 1.1 hectares of land in Canggu from a French citizen.
His prized plot was challenged last year by locals who claimed his property had never belonged to the previous vendor.
Mr Petroulas sued the European national, who cannot be named for legal reasons, claiming he was the victim of a criminal conspiracy perpetrated by the seller.
The 32-year-old had his visa cancelled and was blocked from re-entering Indonesia following the fallout.
Mr Petroulas has since told news.com.au his lawyers have appealed the ban with officials allowing him back into Indonesia.
The Aussie millionaire claimed military officials and Indonesia's media played a part in his downfall.
'After making multiple attempts to try to resolve things peacefully, the seller continued to try to complicate and escalate the situation,' he claimed.
'Eventually, I reached breaking point and involved my lawyers. [But] 48 hours after filing this lawsuit, dozens of negative articles and videos appeared online.
'These were allegedly orchestrated by the individual I sued.'
Mr Petroulas made public a copy of a document allegedly drafted by the European vendor's lawyers and provided to Indonesia's Ministry of Immigration.
Mr Petroulas said the document detailed 'alleged immigration violations allegedly committed by an individual of the name of Julian Petroulas in the Bali region'.
He also shared a WhatsApp exchange he allegedly had with an Indonesian army officer, offering a favourable verdict at Mr Petroulas' upcoming trial for AU$750,000.
'I am someone who knows the details of your problem with [the seller],' one message read.
The sender declined to reveal his name but claimed he was a high-ranking officer in the Indonesian army [with] many connections within the government, police, the court, etc,' according to images published by news.com.au.
'Your lawyer will not be able to win your lawsuit, and I also know [his] team of lawyers are working behind the scene[s], and they [are] really work[ing] hard to defeat your lawsuit,' he wrote.
Mr Petroulas, his lawyers, and local police set a trap, offering the man AU$942 to get the process in motion.
The secretive official's bank account appeared to match the name of a high-ranking Indonesian Colonel.
The official in question has since denied he was behind the messages.
Mr Petroulas alleged the military had organised media stories and the civil suit where [the European] was guaranteed to win.
He alleged the judge had already been paid, making the suit a bidding war rather than a fair judicial process.
'I just want to expose this guy as he has done a lot of evil stuff to me, and it stems from a land deal. This is not about the land or the money, I don't care about that,' he said.
A well-placed builder, who asked to remain anonymous, alleged the European had a history of swindling investors on the island.
Police in Bali are now investigating a text message asking Mr Petroulas to pay for a courtroom.
The message has also been sent to the office of President Prabowo Subianto with a request for action against the officials accused of being involved.
However, insiders are sceptical the case will receive any attention at a presidential level.
Mr Petroulas made his fortune by founding Sydney talent firm Over Agency eight years ago.
His Indonesian assets also include a multi-storey mansion with an outdoor cinema and his Instagram famous restaurant Penny Lane.
Mr Petroulas shares glamourous shots of a life spent in and out of luxury jets, shiny sports cars, and coveted parcels of real estate worldwide.
'How I made MILLIONS of dollars in Bali,' he titled one YouTube video, showing off his multi-level mansion and restaurant Penny Lane.
Mr Petroulas displayed the complex in the video, saying, 'it's f***ing nuts how big this is; everything you can see pretty much from the start of this street until the very end of this river is land that I have bought'.