Indonesian Police Dismantle Online Gambling Network Worth US$56.6 Million

The Indonesian police have uncovered an online gambling ring that was worth millions of Rupiahs. This gambling ring had three websites located outside Indonesia and involved five suspects in its operations, which were worth in excess of one trillion Rupiahs ($56.6 million).

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National Police cybercrime director Adex Yudiswan said the websites were controlled from overseas but operated in Indonesia and other countries. The 5 suspects, arrested in July in Jakarta, South Tangerang, and Semarang, allegedly helped set up a shell company and open bank accounts to collect gambling proceeds.

Transaction Volume And Frozen Funds

Police said the network processed over 1.03 trillion rupiah in transactions between January and August, averaging 8.6 billion rupiah daily. Authorities have frozen about 51 billion rupiah held by 5 payment service providers. The funds were linked to the transactions processed by the online gambling network.

Suspects And Charges

The 5 suspects were arrested in July across Jakarta, South Tangerang, and Semarang. They are accused of helping to set up a shell company and open bank accounts to collect gambling proceeds from overseas-based websites.

Investigators are searching for a 6th suspect believed to have directed the operation. The suspects face up to 15 years in prison under Indonesia’s electronic fund transfer and criminal laws.

Overseas Control Of Websites

Adex Yudiswan said the websites were controlled from overseas but operated in Indonesia and other countries. The arrangement allowed the network to process transactions while maintaining control from outside Indonesia.

The overseas control structure forms part of the investigation into how the network was organised and how funds were collected and moved. The 5 arrested suspects are alleged to have facilitated the operation within Indonesia.

Payment Service Providers Involved

Authorities have frozen about 51 billion rupiah held by 5 payment service providers. The funds were linked to the transactions processed by the online gambling network.

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The involvement of payment service providers highlights the role of financial intermediaries in facilitating the movement of funds. The frozen accounts represent a portion of the total transaction volume identified by police.

Investigation Continues For Sixth Suspect

Investigators are searching for a 6th suspect believed to have directed the operation. The individual is thought to have played a key role in overseeing the network’s activities.

The case covers both the local suspects and the overseas control structure. Indonesian police have dismantled the network’s local operations, frozen funds held by payment service providers, and continue to pursue the suspected director of the operation.

Legal Framework And Penalties

The suspects face up to 15 years in prison under Indonesia’s electronic fund transfer and criminal laws. The charges pertain to the operations of the online gambling website and the movement of money through the shell corporation and the bank account.

The legal structure imposes serious penalties on people indulging in the operations of online gambling websites. The maximum penalty of 15 years indicates how seriously Indonesian authorities take these crimes.

The case therefore proceeds within Indonesia’s existing legal framework for electronic fund transfer and criminal offenses. The 5 arrested suspects await further legal action, while investigators continue to search for the 6th suspect believed to have directed the operation.

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Source: New Straits Times