Couples In West Java Who Initiate Fraudulent Arisan Arrested By Police

West Java Police Head of Public Relations, Grand Commissioner Pol Ibrahim Tompo (center)/Photo: Antara

BANDUNG - The Directorate of General Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimum) of the West Java Police (West Java) arrested a husband and wife couple (couple) who were involved in fraudulent arisan (social gatherings) that cost residents a total of IDR 21 billion.

The Head of Public Relations of the West Java Police, Grand Commissioner Pol. Ibrahim Tompo, said the couple had the initials MAW (23) and HTP (24). Allegedly, said Ibrahim, the victims who were harmed from the fraudulent arisan reached 150 people who came from Bandung and Sumedang.

"There is one suspect here, but one more person is helping. So there are two, so husband and wife are identified as MAW and assisted by husband HTP," said Ibrahim, at the West Java Police Headquarters, Bandung City, Tuesday 1 March.

As for the mode used, Ibrahim explained, the perpetrator initially offered the victims of the arisan auction a minimum purchase of one arisan slot worth IDR 1 million.

With this purchase, according to him, the perpetrators lured the victims to get IDR 1,350,000 per one slot. Then if the victims bring other customers, they will get IDR 250,000 per customer.

From the arisan registration through the slot, the victims made payments to accounts belonging to HTP and other accounts.

However, with a number of these modes, the perpetrators never paid the arisan money to the victims even though it was due.

"It is known that the arisan auctioned is fictitious, the purpose of the perpetrators is only to withdraw money to cover the arisan payment obligations that are due," said Ibrahim.

Head of Sub-Directorate IV of the West Java Police Ditreskrimum, Grand Commissioner Adjutant Adanan Mangopang noted that there was one victim who suffered losses of up to IDR 500 million.

With the arrest of the perpetrators, the police confiscated evidence in the form of the perpetrator's cellphone, proof of money transfer from the arisan, and other evidence.

"We are investigating criminal, civil, and ITE experts, and then later we will carry out further investigations," said Adanan.

From this action, the perpetrators were charged with Article 378 of the Criminal Code, Article 372 of the Criminal Code, Article 28 paragraph (1) of the Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 19 of 2016 concerning Amendments to Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 11 of 2008 concerning Information and Electronic Transactions, and Article 3 and or Article 4 of the Law of the Republic of Indonesia. Number 8 of 2010 concerning the Prevention and Eradication of the Crime of Money Laundering with the threat of five years in prison.