Indonesian police chief vows to track down online gambling kingpins

Jakarta (ANTARA) – National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo has pledged to dismantle online gambling operations within Indonesia, targeting the four identified kingpins currently operating.

Prabowo made this commitment during a press conference on Friday following an interfaith prayer held to commemorate the 78th anniversary of the National Police (Polri).

He said the police would continue to find those involved in online gambling, all the way up to the kingpins. President Joko Widodo had previously ordered a thorough investigation into online gambling.

“Let us see what the future holds,” Prabowo said.

To achieve this goal, Prabowo highlighted the importance of collaboration between the government’s online gambling task force and financial institutions, including the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK).

The PPATK has recently vowed to submit a list of names of legislators suspected of playing or being involved in online gambling to the Honor Council of the House of Representatives (DPR).

Speaking at a hearing session with DPR’s Commission III on Wednesday, PPATK Head Ivan Yustiavandana disclosed that more than 1,000 DPR and Regional Representative Council (DPRD) members were involved in over 63,000 online gambling transactions with a total value of around Rp25 billion (approximately US$1.53 million).

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Translator: Rio F, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Anton Santoso
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