Key points:
- Bareskrim identifies two individuals behind an alleged laundering scheme
- Funds were moved through over 4,600 bank accounts and multiple corporate fronts
- Police freeze assets, including bonds, vehicles and nearly 200 accounts
The Indonesian National Police has disclosed the discovery of a money-laundering network involving Rp530bn (US$32m) in suspected proceeds from illegal online gambling. The case was outlined by the Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) during a press briefing in Jakarta, as reported by The Jakarta Post.
Two suspects, known only by the initials OHW and H, were identified as senior figures within a company named PT A2Z Solusindo Teknologi. According to investigators, the pair used both the parent firm and a subsidiary, PT TGC, to move illicit funds through a combination of bank transfers, cash deposits and withdrawals. A total of 4,656 bank accounts across 22 financial institutions were reportedly used in the scheme.
Bareskrim Commissioner General Wahyu Widada said the suspects relied on repeated fund transfers to obscure the financial trail. The investigation revealed that a substantial portion of the money was eventually directed towards online gambling operators. Authorities also reported the seizure of Rp 276bn in government bonds and four high-end vehicles. In addition, 197 bank accounts across eight institutions have been frozen.
Police believe the suspects have been active in the gambling sector since 2007, with money-laundering activities dating back to at least 2019. Wahyu noted that all recovered funds would be secured in a designated holding account under Bareskrim’s supervision.
Gambling remains prohibited under Indonesian law. Article 303 of the Criminal Code permits prison terms of up to 10 years and fines of Rp25m for those found guilty of involvement. Separately, the Electronic Information and Transactions Law imposes a maximum six-year sentence and a fine of up to Rp1bn for the online distribution of gambling-related material.
