INDONESIAN WITH CAMBODIA LINKS AMONG THOSE ARRESTED
Kompas reported that one Indonesian previously employed in Cambodia was among those arrested in the Hayam Wuruk raid.
Others detained included 13 Myanmar nationals, 11 Lao nationals, five Thais and three each from Malaysia and Cambodia.
Police said the group had been operating 75 online gambling domains and websites, based on evidence from seized electronic devices.
Authorities also seized 1.9 billion rupiah (US$109,165), 53.82 million Vietnamese dong (US$2,045) and US$10,210 in cash, local media reported.
Initial investigations have identified 275 suspects, who may face charges related to illegal gambling and money laundering, Jakarta Post reported.
The roles of the remaining individuals are still being investigated and authorities are mapping the network structure and identifying the alleged masterminds. Investigators are also tracing sponsors, office renters and financial flows linked to the operation.
“We are continuing digital forensic analysis, tracing financial flows, tracking servers and identifying sponsors who brought the (foreign nationals) into Indonesia,” said Wira Satya Triputra, Director of General Crimes at Indonesia’s Criminal Investigation Department.
Untung of Interpol Indonesia said the Batam and Hayam Wuruk cases reflect a growing pattern of foreign-linked cybercrime operations in Indonesia, including online gambling, romance scams and fraudulent investment schemes.
He called for better transnational coordination following the shift to Indonesia, revealing plans by Interpol Indonesia to coordinate with the Foreign Ministry to establish a task force to address the growing threat.
“This phenomenon is developing very rapidly and requires us to sit together and consolidate efforts through a task force,” he said, as quoted by Jakarta Post.
The Indonesian police have also urged the Immigration and Corrections Ministry to strengthen monitoring of foreign nationals who were already linked to transnational crimes.
Preliminary investigations found many of the foreign nationals in the Hayam Wuruk raid had entered Indonesia visa-free and allegedly overstayed the permitted 30-day period, according to Wira of Indonesia’s Criminal Investigations Department.
Most of those detained in the Batam raid had reportedly entered Indonesia using its visa-free or visa-on-arrival facilities.
