edan District Court in North Sumatra’s provincial capital on Tuesday sentenced Jonni, alias Apin BK, owner of an illegal online gambling ring, to three years’ imprisonment on charges of gambling and money laundering.
Prosecutors had demanded five years in jail for the defendant, but presiding judge Dahlan said that mitigating factors included his good behavior in court, his admission of guilt and that it was his first offense
Both the prosecutors and the defendant’s team said they would take the seven days available to consider whether to appeal.
The court heard that the defendant set up a facility in 2017 in a building with around 19 rooms at the Krakatau Multi Centre (KMC) warehouse complex in Medan to accommodate bookies in illegal online gambling operations.
In January 2022, Jonni bought four storehouses in the Cemara Asri housing complex in Deli Serdang, on the outskirts of Medan, equipping them with tables, chairs, computers, CCTV cameras and an internet connection to expand his online gambling ring.
He was believed to have pocketed up to Rp 1 billion (US$66,630) each day.
In August last year, police raided the locations in Deli Serdang but found he had fled to Singapore.
In April, the court sentenced 15 men to 10 months in jail and fined them Rp 50 million each for their involvement in the illegal online gambling. (dre)
Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.
Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.