West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Police have arrested a person identified only as IBW, 36, director of PT Tunggal Angen Perkasa (TAP) for allegedly cheating a number of Australian investors out of billions of rupiah.
Speaking to The Jakarta Post on Thursday, Comr. Tribudi Pangastuti, publication subdivision head of the provincial police's public relations division, said IBW was arrested last weekend and has been detained for further investigation.
"IBW is being grilled as a suspect in fraud cases worth Rp 4.2 billion and Rp 2.4 billion respectively against Australian investors. We are developing the investigation into other possible suspects," Tribudi said.
Tribudi also said the arrest was made possible because of a report filed with police by Australian couple Paul Frederick Robson, 54, and Deborah Cynthia Strock, 52, in November last year.
The couple bought plots of land in 22 different locations in Sekotong district, West Lombok, worth Rp 4.2 billion, on which they intended to build bungalows. They did so using the services of PT TAP and transferred the money through IBW's bank account.
IBW claimed to possess notary-issued purchasing certificates for the land, yet when the couple tried to start developing the sites they found that it still belonged to local people and was never purchased by PT TAP.
"It turn out that the 22 locations are fictitious. They still belong to the local people," Tribudi said.
He added that another Australian, Anthony Stephen Hodgkinson, 50, had also reported IBW, for a similar case involving the fraudulent purchase of land in seven different locations in Sekotong, worth Rp 2.4 billion.
According to Tribudi, PT TAP probably won the trust of the investors because it has recommendations from both the provincial Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) and the West Lombok regent, which guarantees the legitimacy of the company.
"We will continue the investigation including into the possible involvement of related officials in the provincial and regency administrations," Tribudi said.
IBW is charged with Articles 372 and 378 of the Criminal Code on fraud and embezzlement which carry a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment.
Meanwhile, responding to recommendations allegedly issued by the provincial BKPM to PT TAP, Governor Zainul Majdi said he would leave the cases to the legal authorities.
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