Three Journalists In Lampung Named As Suspects In Extortion Cases

Head of Public Relations of the Lampung Police, Kombes Pol. Zahwani Pandra Arsyad. (photo: doc. Antara)

BANDARLAMPUNG - The police have named three journalists with the initials Jun (47), Gan (43), and Am (49) as suspects in the alleged extortion of the Lampung Province BMBK ASN.

Head of Public Relations of the Lampung Police, Kombes Pol. Zahwani Pandra Arsyad in Bandarlampung, Saturday, confirmed the existence of three suspected journalists who blackmailed ASN in Lampung.

"From the five people who were arrested yesterday by the police and now three people have been named as suspects," said Pandra, as quoted by Antara.

If the journalist is involved in reporting issues, according to him, it will be resolved with the Press Council. However, if it violates a crime, it must be resolved in a general court.

The modus operandi of the perpetrators is to ask for some money to fulfill the victim's request not to broadcast news containing nasty chats.

For this incident, the victim of MT ASN BMBK Lampung Province reported to the police with the police report number: LP/B/105/VIII/2022/SPKT/TBU Polsek/Bandar Lampung Police/Lampung Police on 18 August 2022.

The victim suffered a loss of up to IDR 25 million by handing over the money twice, namely IDR 15 million and IDR 10 million.

The evidence that was secured was in the form of a brown envelope containing IDR 50,000 in denominations of IDR 10 million.

The suspects are subject to Article 368 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code sub-Article 369 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 56 of the Criminal Code with a maximum threat of 9 years in prison.