Indonesia Police Bust $56.6m Online Gambling Ring

Indonesian police have uncovered an online gambling operation involving three websites based outside the country and five suspects. The network is alleged to have handled more than one trillion rupiahs ($56.6 million) in transactions.

National Police cybercrime director Adex Yudiswan said the websites were managed from overseas while their activities extended across Indonesia and other countries. Five suspects were arrested in July in Jakarta, South Tangerang and Semarang.

According to investigators, the suspects helped establish a shell company and create bank accounts that were used to receive gambling proceeds generated through overseas-based websites.

Transaction Activity and Frozen Funds

Police said the network recorded more than 1.03 trillion rupiahs in transactions between January and August, equivalent to an average of approximately 8.6 billion rupiahs per day.

Authorities have also frozen around 51 billion rupiahs held across five payment service providers. Investigators said the funds were connected to transactions handled by the online gambling network.

Five Suspects Arrested

The five individuals arrested in July are accused of supporting the network by establishing a shell company and opening bank accounts to collect proceeds from the gambling websites.

Authorities are also looking for a sixth suspect who is believed to have directed the operation. Those already arrested could face prison sentences of up to 15 years under Indonesia’s electronic fund transfer and criminal laws.

Websites Operated From Overseas

Yudiswan said the three gambling websites were controlled outside Indonesia but operated in Indonesia as well as other countries.

The overseas-based structure is part of the investigation into the organisation of the network and the way gambling funds were collected and transferred. The five arrested suspects are alleged to have supported the operation from within Indonesia.

Payment Providers Under Investigation

The authorities’ decision to freeze approximately 51 billion rupiahs across five payment service providers highlights the role of financial intermediaries in the network’s transactions.

Police said the frozen money was connected to funds processed through the gambling operation. The amount represents part of the more than 1.03 trillion rupiahs in transactions identified during the investigation.

Search for Suspected Director Continues

Investigators are continuing their efforts to locate the sixth suspect, who is believed to have been responsible for directing the gambling operation.

The investigation covers both the activities of the five arrested suspects and the overseas control of the websites. Police have dismantled the local part of the network, frozen associated funds and continue to search for the alleged director.

Suspects Face Up to 15 Years in Prison

The five arrested suspects face potential sentences of up to 15 years under Indonesia’s electronic fund transfer and criminal laws.

The allegations relate to the operation of the online gambling websites and the transfer of proceeds through the shell company and associated bank accounts.

The case remains within Indonesia’s existing legal framework covering electronic fund transfers and criminal offences. The five suspects now await further legal proceedings, while investigators continue looking for the sixth person believed to have directed the network.