1 Month Promote Online Gambling Paid IDR 20 Million, Celebrity In Batam Arrested

The Riau Islands Police revealed an online gambling case involving the Batam celebrity who promoted online gambling there. Released at the Riau Islands Police Headquarters, Batam, Monday (15/7/2024). (ANTARA/Laily Rahmawaty)

The Riau Islands Police's Special Criminal Investigation Directorate (Ditreskrimsus) arrested a celebgram promoting online gambling for IDR 20 million for one month of promotion.

"The suspect with the initials S, aged 24, is a Batam resident whose job is as a celebrity or content creator," said Deputy Director of Criminal Investigation at the Riau Islands Police AKBP Ade Kuncoro Ridwan at the Riau Islands Regional Police Headquarters, Batam, Monday, July 15, which was confiscated by Antara.

The middle-ranking police officer explained that the arrest of the suspect was based on the results of a cyber patrol carried out by the Cyber Team Sub-Directorate V of the Ditreskrimsus of the Riau Islands Police in early July, which found a promotion of online gambling on the suspect's Instagram account.

The suspect, he said, was a celebrity who had a blue tick on his social media account with 500 thousand followers.

As for the criminal acts he committed, namely promoting online gambling links in his Instagram story. Twice every day, for a month.

"The perpetrator got this offer via direct message on his Instagram account," said Ade.

The message, he continued, contained an offer to promote gambling sites. After that, the suspect agreed to the promotional cooperation offer and it was agreed that the costs would be received by him if he promoted the site.

"The perpetrator uploaded a link to his Instagram story, so everyone who saw it would be distracted to thejuan site with the name https:mob bla bla bla," said Ade.

Head of Sub-Directorate V Cyber Ditreskrimsus Riau Islands Police AKBP Budget Sibarani explained that the perpetrator had been promoting online gambling sites for a month, from June to July. Twice promote it.

In addition to arresting the perpetrators, investigators are also investigating those who invite the perpetrators to promote them online.

"So we have explored that it is ready for those who invite this perpetrator, it turns out that it is fictitious, communication is only through social media, and is rewarded," he said.

Investigators confiscated evidence in the form of cellphones used by the perpetrators to promote online gambling, one Instagram account, Gmail account with a changed password, one ATM, IDR 3,370,000 in cash which was obtained and withdrawn from the perpetrator's account and the perpetrator's daily account transfer.

As a result of his actions, the suspect was charged with Article 45 paragraph (3) in conjunction with Article 27 paragraph (2) of 2024 with a threat of imprisonment for 10 years and a maximum fine of IDR 10 billion.

Throughout 2024, Sub-Directorate V of the Ditreskriksus of the Riau Islands Police has uncovered 2 cases of online gambling. In addition to targeting parties who promote also target players and managers of online gambling sites.

"We don't just focus on website providers, it's possible for us to take action against online gamblers," said Budget.