PPATK Findings Regarding Regional Heads' Money In Casino Accounts

JAKARTA - The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) found a number of transactions by regional heads that kept them. This is because Rp. 50 billion was found in accounts at casinos or gambling establishments abroad.

The head of PPATK, Kiagus Ahmad Badaruddin, said that his party would investigate the suspicion that the money originated from money laundering. Moreover, the transacted value comes from several regional heads in Indonesia abroad.

"PPATK is tracing the financial transactions of several regional heads who are suspected of placing significant funds in foreign currency with a nominal value of Rp50 billion into overseas casino accounts," said Badaruddin during the Year-End Reflections at his office, Friday, December 13.

He said that the criminal act of money laundering by regional heads was allegedly committed by exchanging proceeds of crime for casino coins. Where later the coins will be exchanged back into denominations to be brought back to Indonesia.

Even so, it did not go into further detail and detail the findings and other allegations. In fact, it was mentioned if there were other findings related to regional coconut transactions abroad.

"There were also activities using proceeds from criminal acts to purchase luxury goods and gold bars abroad," said Badaruddin.

Meanwhile, confirmed regarding the findings of the PPATK, the National Police said it was possible to be involved in the investigation into the alleged money laundering crime. It's just that, with a few notes.

Head of the Public Relations Division of the National Police, Inspector General of the Police, Muhammad Iqbal, said that some of the notes referred to, namely, the existence of sufficient evidence as a condition for starting an investigation. If it has been fulfilled, his party will start investigating the case.

"The principle is that if it is proven, the evidence is sufficient, because reporting there must be sufficient evidence. At least two pieces of evidence that are sufficient to commit a criminal act will definitely be followed up," said Iqbal in Jakarta, Monday, December 17.

On the same occasion, the Head of Public Relations DivHumas Polri Kombes Asep Adi Saputra added that in addition to the evidence, currently his party will be waiting for the Analysis Result Report (LHA) from the PPATK, which will then determine the next steps in the investigation.

"We are waiting for the results of the PPATK, what will they be issuing the LHA, what kind of analysis report, that's the process," said Asep.

Like a tit for tat, the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) also invited law enforcement officials to follow up on the PPATK findings. The Ministry of Home Affairs requested that the findings remain based on the presumption of innocence.

"Related, the reporting data and financial transactions are in the realm of PPATK and it has not been proven whether there is a violation of the law or not, and if there is a violation of the law, (then) that is the domain of law enforcers. And please all of us continue to respect the principle of the presumption of innocence," said the Head of Penal Office Ministry of Home Affairs, Bahtiar, in his statement.