Indonesian Police Dismantle International Online Gambling Syndicate to Protect the Nation’s Future
By: Agung Priyatna )*
The government through the security forces deserves appreciation for its success in dismantling an online gambling syndicate operating at the national and international levels. This firm step shows a commitment to protecting the public from the negative impacts of online gambling which are increasingly rampant and disturbing.
The government under the direction of President Prabowo and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka continues to aggressively eradicate Online Gambling. Most recently, the Directorate of Cyber Crime (Dirtipidsiber) of the National Police Criminal Investigation Unit succeeded in uncovering three large online gambling syndicates operating through the sites H5GF777, RGO Casino, and Agen138. According to the Director of Cyber Crime of the National Police Criminal Investigation Unit, Brigadier General Himawan Bayu Aji, the National Police confiscated assets worth IDR 61 billion which will be returned to the state as an effort to recover losses due to this illegal activity. The disclosure of this syndicate involved various types of games, such as slots, casinos, soccer gambling, and others, which have netted many victims from various levels of society.
In the H5GF777 case, the police named two suspects with the initials MIA and AL, who acted as site managers. One of the suspects, AL, is suspected of using the company PT Giat Melangkah Maju (GMM) to facilitate online gambling payment transactions. The police confiscated assets worth IDR 47 billion from various payment service providers and froze related accounts.
Meanwhile, the RGO Casino syndicate involved five suspects, one of whom was HJ alias Zeus, who was known to act as the operational manager and controller of 17 other online gambling sites. The police revealed that HJ often traveled between Jakarta and Cambodia to train and recruit other perpetrators as online gambling site admins. In this disclosure, the police confiscated IDR 1.6 billion in cash, luxury vehicles, and operational equipment.
The last case that was successfully uncovered was the Agen138 online gambling syndicate. In this case, four suspects have been arrested, namely JO, JG, AHL, and KW, while another suspect with the initials KK is still being pursued. The police are also investigating the connection between the syndicate’s assets and the Aruss Hotel Semarang which was previously confiscated in the development of a money laundering (TPPU) case.
The success of the security forces in dismantling this syndicate cannot be separated from the support of various related agencies, such as the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK), the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kominfo), the Directorate General of Immigration, and the Attorney General’s Office, as well as elements of society. This collaboration is proof that eradicating online gambling requires strong synergy from various parties in order to be carried out effectively.
The Director of Strategy and Domestic Cooperation of PPATK, Brigadier General Muhammad Irhamni, stated that financial transaction analysis plays an important role in identifying suspicious fund flows related to this online gambling syndicate. Through strict monitoring, his party can provide information that supports the law enforcement process.
In addition, the Head of the Komdigi Illegal Gambling Internet Content Control Team, Menhariq Noor, emphasized that the blocking of online gambling sites continues to be carried out intensively. Every site that is successfully blocked often reappears with a different domain, so monitoring efforts must be carried out continuously. His party also continues to educate the public through digital literacy so that they are not easily trapped in the trap of online gambling which can be financially and psychologically detrimental.
The Attorney General’s Office also plays a role in ensuring that the legal process runs optimally to provide a deterrent effect on the perpetrators. The Director of Crimes Against State Security, Public Order and Other General Crimes at the Attorney General’s Office, Agus Sahat, emphasized the importance of confiscating assets resulting from crime to prevent perpetrators from profiting from the crimes they have committed.
President Prabowo Subianto has paid special attention to the rampant online gambling cases in Indonesia. He instructed more intensive coordination between related agencies to ensure the eradication of online gambling to the roots. This is done to protect the public, especially the younger generation, from the negative impacts of online gambling which can damage morals and social life.
In addition to being a threat to public morals, online gambling also has a detrimental economic impact. Many individuals who are trapped in this practice experience major financial losses and ultimately lead to more complex social problems. Therefore, eradicating online gambling is not only a legal issue, but also part of social protection efforts for the community.
