TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian National Police (Polri) criminal investigation unit (Bareskrim) on Wednesday announced a major arrest of 55 foreign nationals from China involved in an international online fraud syndicate operating in Indonesia.

Bareskrim director of general crimes Djuhandani Rahardjo in the press conference at the Bareskrim headquarters said investigators received a tip prior to a field investigation across three locations believed to accommodate the criminal activities.

“We commenced an investigation and on Tuesday we checked and raided three locations under our radar,” said Djuhandani on April 5.

The three aforementioned locations were the area of Pasar Minggu in South Jakarta; Duren Sawit in East Jakarta; and Kebayoran Baru in South Jakarta.

From these locations, police arrested 55 foreigners – who were not all equipped with passports – and six Indonesians which police assume are only tasked as helpers.

They are accused of committing online fraud against citizens that reside in Mainland China, Thailand, and Singapore, which was based on initial questioning. Police also found that this syndicate would act as law enforcers when contacting their victims and were also known for selling fictitious electronic products. The money these criminals obtain was then laundered through an escrow account outside of Indonesia.

Considering the perpetrators and victims are mostly from overseas, the police have coordinated with immigration and National Police’s international division before further legal action is applied.

EKA YUDHA SAPUTRA

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