Sidoarjo Police Reveal Online Gambling Practices, Secure 54 Perpetrators And Billions Of Rupiah

Illustration of online gambling (ANTARA)

SIDOARJO - Sidoarjo Police, East Java, managed to arrest 54 online gamblers and two conventional gamblers in an operation that was held over the past week. This gambling practice is known to involve a circulation of billions of rupiah.

Sidoarjo Police Chief, Kombes Pol Christian Tobing, revealed that the online gamblers arrested came from various regions, both urban and suburban areas.

The majority of actors act as operators who receive money deposits from players who find it difficult to make direct online bets.

"Of the total 56 perpetrators we have secured, 54 of them are involved in online gambling, while the other two are involved in conventional gambling," said Kombes Tobing at a press conference, Monday, November 25.

The police also managed to confiscate evidence in the form of dozens of cellphones used for online gambling and a number of cash used as deposit money.

"There are dozens of cellphones used for online gambling activities and some of the cash we secure," said Tobing.

Online gambling practices in Sidoarjo are now not only developing in urban areas, but also entering suburban villages. This is a serious concern for law enforcement officials, given its extensive negative impact on society.

Currently, all perpetrators have been detained at the Sidoarjo Police Station for further investigation. They were charged with Article 303 of the Criminal Code concerning the Crime of Gambling and the Law on Information and Electronic Transactions (ITE), with the threat of imprisonment of more than 5 years.

The police also appealed to the public to report all ongoing gambling activities, so that the eradication of online gambling can be carried out more effectively.