Jambi Police Arrest Bank Employees Embezzle Rp7.1 Billion Customer Money, The Money Is For Playing Online Gambling

Deputy Director of Criminal Investigation at the Jambi Police ABKP Taufik Nurmandia when the case of embezzlement of Bank Jambi customers worth Rp7.1 billion, Monday (2/6/2025). (ANTARA/Nanang Mairiadi)

Jambi Police Ditreskrimsus arrested an employee of the Jambi Regional Development Bank (BPD) Bank Jambi Branch Office Kerinci, a suspect in embezzlement of customers' money with a total loss of IDR 7.1 billion.

Deputy Director (Wadir) of the Jambi Police Criminal Investigation Unit AKBP Taufik Nurmandia said the suspect was Rafina Salsabila or RS (26) who previously served as a credit analyst at the Kerinci branch office.

The modus operandi is that the suspect withdraws funds from dozens of customer accounts without the knowledge of the account owner and uses the money for personal gain, including playing online gambling.

In uncovering this case, the police examined 27 witnesses, including internal employees, customers who were harmed to banking experts and OJK.

The results of the examination showed that the suspect used the mode of pretending to be asked for help by customers to take money from the bank, even though the fact that the withdrawal was carried out without the approval of the customer and the suspect RS falsified the signatures of the customers.

"There were 25 victims, including one person, who had three accounts. The total loss suffered reached Rp7.1 billion from September 2023 to October 2024," said AKBP Taufik Nurmandia as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, June 2.

According to AKBP Taufik, the suspect took advantage of the trust that had been given by customers, who had previously entrusted withdrawals. This makes tellers and other employees not suspicious and continue to disburse withdrawal slips submitted by the hospital.

"Hospitals can do that because they have been entrusted with trust and asked to help by a customer or account owner to get money, so teller believes," he said.

In launching the action, the suspect RS has taken savings from customers who applied for a loan to the Jambi BPD Kerinci Branch as many as 24 people and a customer's deposit and money from one of the foundations with the total loss of the victims reaching Rp7.1 billion in more than a year.

The results of the police's analysis of the suspect's personal account revealed that the proceeds of the crime were used for personal gain, which among other things were used for online gambling.

The police found evidence of transactions for online gambling activities, such as deposits and large money bets. The police have also secured evidence in the form of fake withdrawal slips used by the suspect to disburse customer funds.

The suspect RS was charged with Article 49 paragraph (1) letter a of the Republic of Indonesia Law No. 4 of 2023 concerning the Development and Strengthening of the Financial Sector with a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, as well as a maximum fine of Rp. 200 billion.

"Currently, we have detained the person concerned at the Jambi Police Headquarters and the investigation is still ongoing," said AKBP Taufik Nurmandia.