17,800 People Deceived By Couples In Aceh Through Business Selling Clothing, Rp164 Billion Enters Private Pockets

ACEH - Investigators from the Special Criminal Investigation Directorate of the Aceh Regional Police have extended the detention period of two suspected illegal investments with profits reaching Rp164 billion.

Head of Public Relations of the Aceh Police, Kombes Winardy, said that the extension of the detention period for the two suspects had been carried out for 90 days.

"The extension of the detention period for the two suspects is court detention. The two suspects have been detained for 90 days," said Kombes Winardy in Banda Aceh as reported by Antara, Wednesday, June 16.

The two suspects are husband and wife (couple), S (30) and SHA (31). The fraudulent investments of the two perpetrators were made through a clothing sales company, Yalsa Boutique.

Investments are collected through 202 parties called resellers with approximately 17,800 members. Investigators, continued Winardy, have examined 42 witnesses while finalizing case files. For the case itself, it is still in stage one.

"Regarding the confiscated evidence, there has been no addition. Previously, investigators had confiscated a number of luxury cars and the suspect's house, as well as Rp46 million in cash, and others," said Winardy.

Previously, investigators from the Aceh Regional Police identified and detained two suspects for alleged fraudulent investments of Rp164 billion through a clothing sales company with the initials S (30) and SHA (31). The two suspects are owners of Yalsa Boutique, a clothing company.

Detention is carried out based on the results of the investigation. From the results of the investigation, it was found that there were more than two pieces of evidence and witnesses against the alleged banking crimes committed by the two suspects.

In addition to evidence, investigators obtained expert witness statements from the Financial Services Authority (OJK) and the banking sector, thus fulfilling the elements based on Article 184 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Head of the Banking Sub-Directorate of the Aceh Police Special Criminal Investigation Directorate AKBP Erwan said investigators confiscated Rp46 million in cash, laptops, gold in various forms, 87 gold purchase letters, ATM cards, account books, and other evidence.

"In addition, investigators have also confiscated a number of cars. All of the evidence is suspected to be the result of a fraudulent investment made by the suspect. The Aceh Police are still tracking the assets of the two suspects for the money laundering case," said AKBP Erwan.

AKBP Erwan said Yalsa Botique is an investment that is suspected of being fraudulent and has collected public funds in the form of savings or investments of up to Rp164 billion.

The collection of money from the public was carried out by Yalsa Boutique without having a business license from Bank Indonesia and the Financial Services Authority (OJK) from December 2019 to February 2021.

AKBP Erwan said the two suspects were charged with Article 46 Paragraph (1) of Law No. 10/1998 on amendments to Law No. 7/1992 on Banking.

"As well as Article 2 Paragraph (1) letter g, Article 3, and Article 5 Paragraph (1) of the Republic of Indonesia Law Number 8 of 2010 concerning the prevention and eradication of the crime of money laundering or ML," said AKBP Erwan.