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Jokowi, police chief unaware of online gambling mastermind
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Users access online gambling websites through their smartphones in Bogor, West Java, on May 30, 2024. (Antara/Yulius Satria Wijaya)
P
resident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, National Police chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo and other top officials claim not to be aware of a person identified only as T, who is suspected of being the mastermind behind online gambling operations in the country.
The figure was previously revealed to the media by Protection and Indonesian Migrant Workers (BP2MI) head Benny Ramdhani.
“We actually already know that the mastermind behind online gambling and online fraud [in Indonesia] is from Cambodia,” Benny said on Thursday, adding that he had reported the person to President Jokowi in a closed-door meeting.
He further revealed that the BP2MI identified the suspect after the agency traced the illegal placement of Indonesian migrant workers in Cambodia.
“This is a person who, as long as Indonesia exists, might be immune to the law,” Benny argued.
Read also: Online gambling epidemic
But, when asked by reporters on Friday, Jokowi insisted that he did not know about the person mentioned by the BP2MI.
“I know nothing about that. Please just ask Pak Benny,” he said, as quoted from Kompas.com.
Similarly, Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) chief Ivan Yustiavandana denied knowing anything about T.
However, he said that the alleged mastermind must be among 2,000 bank account holders suspected by the PPATK of being used to collect funds from online gambling in the country.
National Police chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo also said on Friday that he would ask Benny directly about the person in question.
“If necessary, we will summon [Benny] to clarify,” Listyo said. (alf)
