Involved In Fraud Of IDR 237 Million, Police Arrest And Detain Lawyers In Tanjungpinang

Illustration of the perpetrator of the crime (VOI)

TANJUNGPINANG - Tanjungpinang Police Investigator, Riau Islands Police (Kepri) detained a man with the initials IK who is also a lawyer for being involved in a fraud case and/or embezzlement worth hundreds of millions of rupiah.

"The perpetrator has officially become a suspect and was detained to undergo further legal proceedings," said Tanjungpinang Police Chief Kombes Pol Heribertus Ompusunggu, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, June 6.

The police chief explained that the handling of fraud and/or embezzlement cases began in early 2021.

The chronology of the fraud incident began with the Director of PT Golden Forest Indonesia (GFI) with the initials KCA giving power to a person with the initials BJ to take care of PT GFI's land covering an area of approximately 439 hectares in the Toapaya District area, Bintan Regency, as a right of use (HGU).

In March 2021, he said, BJ offered the suspect IK a job to register and manage PT. GFI's land as a HGU certificate.

"The perpetrator IK agreed to a job offer from BJ, then made a proposal accompanied by a budget plan (RAB) with a total cost of IDR 1.25 billion, including an IK honorarium of IDR 50 million," he said.

After that, the suspect IK submitted a proposal and RAB to BJ on condition that he disbursed the first stage of the money of 10 percent, because the perpetrator admitted that he needed money as a guide.

BJ then handed over the first phase of payment money of around Rp. 125 million to IK on May 25, 2021, followed by an agreement as well as signing a cooperation on Jalan Sultan Sulaiman, Barelang TV Cable Office, Tanjungpinang City on May 27, 2021.

A few months later, on July 6, 2021, the suspect IK again received the second stage of 20 percent or around Rp250 million from BJ.

Furthermore, the third stage payment of 50 percent or around Rp. 370 million has also been paid by BJ to IK. However, in the activity report and accountability for the financial use reported by IK, there are descriptions of fictitious activities including payment of land and building taxes (PBB).

"It turns out that the UN tax relief application and the extension of the recommendation for the use of debted space. So that PT. GFI suffered a loss of Rp. 237 million," he said.

For this incident, continued the Chief of Police, BJ suffered a loss of Rp. 237 million and reported the incident to the Tanjungpinang Police.

After going through a series of investigations by the Tanjungpinang Police Criminal Investigation Unit, it can be concluded that there have been allegations of fraud and/or embezzlement as referred to in the formulation of Article 378 KUH Pidana and/or Article 372 KUH Pidana committed by IK perpetrators.

From the results of the police investigation, suspect IK admitted that he had committed fraud and/or embezzlement to BJ.

"We have secured the IK suspect since May 27, 2023," said the Tanjungpinang Police Chief.