Bali Police Uncover Illegal Pawnshop with Double Interest

Bali Police/PHOTO press conference: Dafi-VOI

DENPASAR - Bali Regional Police (Polda) revealed the modus operandi of an illegal pawnbroker without a business license from the Financial Services Authority (OJK) in Terusan, Lelateng Village, Negara District, Jembrana Regency, Bali.

Bali Police Chief Inspector General Daniel Adityajaya said that the suspect Putu Agus Berata Wijaya did not have a license from the OJK, and also charged the victim double interest, and there was no liability agreement for the pawned goods that he managed himself.

The IPABW suspect distributed/gave funds to the victim with collateral and charged interest of 10 percent to 15 percent per month.

If the borrower cannot pay the interest on the due date each month, then interest will be charged again (which is a fine) of 10 percent to 15 percent continuously.

Daniel explained that the suspect I Putu Agus Berata Wijaya had been running his business since 2020. From the suspect's residence, the police confiscated 21 motorbikes of various brands, three cars, a television and a list of people who pawned their goods to the suspect.

IPABW was arrested on October 30, 2024 based on a police report received on October 12, 2024.

The reporter/victim I Putu Agus Wipra Sanjaya on October 12, 2024 came to the Bali Police SPKT to report that he had pawned his belongings in the form of 1 Honda Astrea Grand motorbike from 1996.

Other items, 1 Honda Vario motorbike from 2012 and a 43-inch TCL LED TV to the perpetrator IPABW alias Agus Weng-Weng with a total value of IDR 4.9 million.

In the initial meeting, the victim/reporter was charged 10 percent interest on the loan amount, with the note that if the reporter was late in making payments on the monthly due date, then interest would be charged again (in the form of a fine) of 10 percent continuously.

The loan took place around May 2024. In August 2024, the reporter wanted to pay off his debt obligations to the perpetrator.

However, said the Bali Police Chief, after checking the item in the form of a Vario motorbike that was pawned was not at the perpetrator's place. After being confirmed by the reporter, according to the perpetrator, the motorbike had been rented to another party (without mentioning the name of the renter) and without the reporter's permission.

Because he felt cheated and harmed by the perpetrator, the victim reported the incident to the Bali Police. Based on this report, the Bali Police Special Criminal Investigation Directorate (Ditreskrimsus) investigation team visited the person's residence in Lelateng, Jembrana Regency.

After examining the evidence and witnesses, the case was raised to an investigation status until the IPABW suspect was determined.

The suspect was charged under Article 305 in conjunction with Article 237 of Law Number 4 of 2023 concerning the development and strengthening of the financial sector.