Balinese police have no plans to question AFL star Ricky Olarenshaw over ownership of a spa his ex-wife is accused of running as a brothel.
Sarnanitha ‘Nitha’ Olarenshaw claims she was illegally detained after being arrested over allegations she was offered sex at her Flame Seminyak spa.
Olarenshaw, an Instagram influencer with 20,000 followers, could face 12 years in prison if charged and convicted of alleged “pornography and prostitution” activities at the company.
His lawyer, Donny Tri Istiqomah, told Daily Mail Australia last week that Olarenshaw had been a victim of “exploitation” and “criminalization” by foreigners.
Istigomah said that while Olarenshaw, being Balinese, owned 99 per cent of the business to circumvent local laws, all profits went to four Australians who had interests in Flame.
Olarenshaw claims the four Australians are her ex-husband Ricky, her brother Darren and two other Australians living in Bali, Adam Dalby and Gregory Hinchliffe.
Istigomah insisted that Flame Seminyak, part of a chain of spas with sister centers in Kuta and Canggu, only offered “sensual massages, not sexual intercourse”.
On Monday, Balinese police said they were working to complete the investigation into Olarenshaw “as soon as possible.”
Balinese police have no plans to question AFL star Ricky Olarenshaw over ownership of a spa his ex-wife Sarnanitha Olarenshaw (above) is accused of running as a brothel.
Police spokesman Jansen Avitus Panjaitan said that while the Flame property was part of the investigations, there were no plans to interview Ricky Olarenshaw.
Panjaitan said that according to legal documents available to police, the four Australians, including Ricky Olarenshaw, “have nothing to do with this.”
“If later we believe that we need to call them, we will do so,” he said. “But so far there is no plan to do so.”
Olarenshaw is being held at the Bali Police Detention and Evidence Directorate, along with Melbourne couple Michael and Lynley Le Grand, who were arrested separately for alleged prostitution at Pink Palace Spa.
Panjaitan said police believed they already had in custody all those responsible for allegedly allowing prostitution in their businesses.
‘Everyone can claim a business as their own, but if there is no legal document to prove it, how could we prove it?’ said.
‘How can you prove that it is yours, if you don’t have the document that proves that it is yours?’
Sarnanitha ‘Nitha’ Olarenshaw claims she was illegally detained after being arrested over allegations she was offered sex at her Flame Seminyak spa. She is pictured with her ex-husband Ricky Olarenshaw.
Panjaitan said providing capital for a company did not make a person legally responsible for how it operated.
Istiqomah previously provided his client’s explanation of spa ownership to Daily Mail Australia.
“The police are doubtful because the legal document only showed Nitha’s name,” he said. ‘(But) this is a widespread practice in Bali.
‘As we know, foreign investment in Indonesia should have a minimum capital of 10 billion rupees (1 million Australian dollars).
‘That’s why they usually use local people as owners. Many foreign-owned companies use the Indonesian name, his wife’s name. Researchers should realize this.
Istiqomah said her client’s pre-court hearing, which she hoped would exonerate her, would be helpful on Oct. 28.
Olarenshaw is believed to have returned to Australia just days before Bali police raided the Flame spa in late September.
Nitha was arrested last week, along with three Flame employees.
The case is still under investigation, but prostitution and sex work are highly illegal in Bali and are considered crimes against “decency and morality” in the country.
Olarenshaw is being held at the Bali Police Detention and Evidence Directorate (above), along with Melbourne couple Michael and Lynley Le Grand, who were arrested separately for alleged prostitution at Pink Palace Spa.
Services at Flame Spa range from $95 to $181 per session and their motto was supposedly: ‘Our service is more than just a sensual massage, it’s an erotic experience.’
‘Our goal is to light your flame.’
Her Instagram profile supposedly advertised “Bali’s premier sensual massage.”
The TikTok page reportedly recommended customers “bring your date or partner” to “enjoy the experience with us.”
During a police raid in Flame, a masseuse was found “completely naked.”
Olarenshaw’s LinkedIn describes herself as the “self-employed” owner of Flame Spa since July 2017 and her personal Instagram labels her as a “female entrepreneur.”
Since the allegations against him emerged, he changed his Instagram account, which has 23,000 followers, to private.
Olarenshaw moved to Bali after his retirement from the AFL and has since become director of three F45 gyms there.
Daily Mail Australia does not suggest any wrongdoing on Olarenshaw’s part, nor that he was aware of any alleged illegal activity within the spa.
Nitha claims that she separated from her husband earlier this year. Her lawyer said she just wants to “live in peace with her daughter.”