OJK Facilitates Problem Solving Of A Kindergarten Teacher Entangled In Loan Of IDR 2.5 Million To IDR 35 Million

The atmosphere of the meeting between the OJK, the victim of loan, and the Mayor of Malang. (Photo: Doc. OJK)

JAKARTA - The Financial Services Authority (OJK) through the Head of Malang OJK Office, Sugiarto Kasmuri, had a meeting with Susmiati, a kindergarten teacher in Malang who was caught in a loan from fintech lending.

In a press statement on Wednesday evening 19 May, it was found that Sugiarto held a cross-sectoral meeting in collaboration with Malang Mayor Sutiaji who also gave attention to this case.

At the meeting, information was obtained if Susmiati said that she had made loans through 19 illegal fintech lenders and five fintech lenders that were registered or licensed at the OJK.

"The person concerned admitted that the total obligations that must be fulfilled reached around IDR 35 million, with details of IDR 29 million in illegal fintech lending and IDR 6 million in official fintech lending," he said.

Sugiarto added that the authority will facilitate the settlement of Susmiati's obligations to legal fintech and will coordinate with the Indonesian Joint Funding Fintech Association (AFPI) regarding possible service violations committed against Susmiati.

"Meanwhile, regarding loans to illegal fintech lending, at the meeting, it was agreed that the Malang City Baznas would assist with the settlement in accordance with the mayor's direction," he said.

The boss of the Malang OJK also intends to follow up on this case by meeting with the Malang Police Chief to discuss the handling of illegal fintech lending.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Investment Alert Task Force Tongam L. Tobing also expressed his concern over the case against Susmiati and asked the public not to take advantage of fintech lending that is not registered or licensed by the OJK.

"We are very concerned about this incident. This is proof that this illegal fintech lending activity is very dangerous to the community, "said Tongam.

He asked people who had been victims of violent billing from illegal fintech lenders to immediately report it to the Police.

"The unethical collection of illegal fintech lending with terror, intimidation, or harassment is an action that cannot be tolerated and must be prosecuted. We trust the police to handle it," he explained.

The Investment Alert Task Force in its operations prevented public losses until April again found 86 illegal fintech lending platforms and 26 unlicensed business activities that have the potential to harm the community. From 2018 to April 2021, the Task Force closed 3,193 illegal fintech lenders.

Meanwhile, the number of fintech lenders that have been legally valid until mid-May 2021 is 138 companies. From these, 57 licensed operators and 81 registered operators.

To note, the case that happened to Susmiati went public after she admitted that she was caught in an online loan with a sizeable refund obligation.

Based on information compiled by the editor, it is known that the teaching staff initially made loans of around IDR 2.5 million to five fintech lending organizers to pay tuition fees. Along the way, Susmiati was then unable to pay off the debt because the loan interest was too high.

To overcome this, she then made similar withdrawals in many online loan applications. Instead of solving the problem, Susmiati was even more caught in a piling up of debt.

Eventually, she got terror from debt collectors and was fired from her place of teaching because of the problem. In fact, a report stated that Susmiati's debt at many peer-to-peer lending institutions reached IDR 40 million.