Employees of ministry misused authority to keep illegal online gambling sites active | INSIDER – Indonesia Business Post

The Ministry of Communication and Digital has temporarily deactivated 11 employees following their detention by police over involvement in illegal online gambling activities. This measure marks the ministry’s first step in reinforcing its commitment to institutional integrity and credibility amid rising digital crime.

“A total of 11 employees of the ministry were deactivated after police arrests for alleged violations. Other individuals who may be involved are still under verification, pending further coordination between the Directorate General of Informatics Application at the Ministry of Communication and Digital and the Indonesian National Police. This verification will ensure clarity regarding the identities of the detained employees,” stated Minister of Communication and Digital Meutya Hafid in a statement on Monday, November 4, 2024.

The Minister emphasized the importance of all employees’ adherence to the ministry’s integrity pact, especially in combating illegal practices, such as online gambling, that have become increasingly problematic.

Ade Ary Syam Indradi, Head of Public Relations of the Metro Jaya Police, explained that Ministry employees are responsible for monitoring and blocking online gambling websites. However, certain employees allegedly misused their authority by choosing not to block known gambling sites. “They are given full authority to block. However, they also abuse it; if they already know them, they don’t block them from the database,” he said.

The ministry will impose temporary dismissal on the employees involved within seven days of receiving the police’s detention notice. This step aims to uphold the ministry’s supervisory functions while respecting the presumption of innocence. Should the legal process result in a permanent conviction (inkracht status), employees found guilty will be dishonorably discharged.

The Ministry of Communication and Digital will continue monitoring the case and may take further action if more employees are implicated. Progress updates will be provided to the press and public as a form of transparency and accountability.