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Denpasar (ANTARA News) - The maker of the documentary film "Cowboys in Paradise" is believed to have produced the movie in Bali without the needed official permission and could therefore be prosecuted, police said.

"In our preliminary investigation which included collecting information from various relevant parties, we have found reason to believe the film`s maker did not have a permit to `shoot` his scenes in Bali. If our belief proves to be correct, he can be prosecuted for violating the law," Bali provincial police spokesman Sr Com Gde Sugianyar said in Denpasar on Wednesday.

For not having an official permit, the initiator or maker of the documentary could be charged based on Article 41, section (1), of Law No 8 /1992 on Film Making which carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a fine of Rp40 million, he said.

"Cowboys in Paradise" purports to depict the life of gigolos or male prostitutes who cater to sex-hungry female tourists on Bali`s Kuta beach. It was made by Amit Virmani, an Indian-born film director currently living in Singapore.

The gigolos presented in the film are mostly sunburnt local young men who at first glance act like ordinary "beach boys" mingling with tourists on Kuta beach.

The film which is reported to have won awards at the Korean International Documentary Festival and can also be seen on the internet has created a stir and drawn protests from local quarters in Bali.

Sugianyar said Amit Virmani could also be charged for violating Indonesia`s immigration law because he had come to Bali on a tourist visa, meaning he was supposed not to have done anything else apart from vacationing. "But he made a film and thereby he clearly violated the immigration law," he said. (*)

Editor: Heru

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