Indonesian Police Disband Online Gambling Syndicate Linked to Cambodia

(AsiaGameHub) –   Police in Medan, Indonesia, have announced the dismantling of an online gambling syndicate that they allege has connections to Cambodia.

According to the North Sumatra Regional Police Force’s Cyber Investigation Directorate, the gambling operation was based in three rooms within an apartment building located on the busy commercial street Jalan Palang Merah, in downtown Medan, as reported by Indonesian media outlet Kompas.

Authorities conducted a raid on the apartment building on the evening of March 16. Detectives reported making 19 arrests across two separate investigations. A court in the city has ordered the group to be held in custody.

Police stated that two siblings were in charge of the operations in one of the rooms. Their alleged subordinates were employed in various technical capacities or worked as marketers for online casinos, detectives added.

Online Gambling Syndicate: Police Make 19 Arrests

Officers indicated that one of the individuals arrested was the alleged mastermind behind the entire syndicate, responsible for personally recruiting all other suspects.

The syndicate had reportedly been operating for approximately two years without drawing the attention of law enforcement. A police spokesperson stated that the group utilized a range of advanced technological tools to evade detection.

“We are still investigating the possibility that this syndicate was operating as part of a wider network,” the official commented. “We are investigating possible links with foreign networks and other parties.”

The official also revealed that one of the arrestees “previously worked in Cambodia,” adding that the investigation is ongoing.

Civil Servants Fired for ‘Gambling Violations’

All forms of gambling remain illegal in Indonesia, and police and public prosecutors are intensifying their crackdown on online casinos.

Indonesian officials have attributed a wide range of social problems to online betting portals, including increased hospital bed occupancy and rising divorce rates.

In Jambi, Sumatra, local government officials have announced the dismissal of four civil servants from their positions.

According to reports from the Indonesian media outlet Detik, the four individuals allegedly took out illegal online loans and gambled the funds online, which is a violation of the civil service code.

The Jambi mayor’s office stated that it “will not hesitate to impose sanctions” on the civil servants. The office further commented that such incidents “not only damage performance, but also destroy public trust.”

The office issued a warning to all Jambi civil servants to “avoid negative activities, such as web-based gambling and online loans.”

In Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi Province, police have accused a man of fabricating a report about a mugging to conceal his online gambling activities.

The man initially told police that a group of motorcycle-riding assailants had robbed him in the street and stolen his money.

However, during police questioning, the man admitted that he had invented the story to avoid being “scolded” by his wife.