Inmates In Kolaka Desperately Extort Women Through VCS, Now Sent To Kendari Isolation Cells

Kendari Class IIA Rutan Office, Southeast Sulawesi (29/10/2025). BETWEEN/La Ode Muh Deden Saputra

KENDARI - A resident of the Correctional Inmates (WBP) of the Class IIB Kolaka State Detention Center (Rutan), with the initials WL, who is suspected of committing extortion disguised as a member of the Indonesian Navy, has now been transferred to an isolation cell in the Class IIA Kendari Detention Center, Southeast Sulawesi Province.

Head of the Class IIB Kolaka Rutan Bambang Putto Herdiyanto said WL was taken to Kendari to facilitate the investigation process by the Kendari City Police (Polresta).

"Yes, it has been brought to Kendari after the disclosure (at the detention center)," said Bambang in Kendari, Antara, Wednesday, October 29.

Head of the Kendari Class IIA Correctional Institution (Lapas) Mukhtar explained that WL was placed in Kendari Prison on Friday (24/10), before finally being transferred to the isolation cell of the Kendari Class IIA Detention Center for security reasons.

"It is placed in an isolation cell for security measures against the person concerned," said Mukhtar.

After four days in Kendari Prison, WL was then transferred to the Kendari Detention Center on Monday (27/10) in coordination with the Southeast Sulawesi Correctional Regional Office.

"This transfer is carried out so that the inspection process is easier because the victim reports to the Kendari Police. In addition, the distance between the Kendari Police and the Kolaka Detention Center is quite far," said Mukhtar.

Head of Class IIA Kendari Rutan Rikie Umbaran added that apart from the reasons for the investigation, the transfer of WL was also carried out because in Kendari Prison there were several convicts who were hostile to WL.

"Set in the detention center because in prison there are many enemies. For security, WL is placed in an isolation cell," he said.

Previously, the Kendari Police Criminal Investigation Unit arrested WL, a resident of the Kolaka Detention Center, for allegedly extorting female victims with video call sex (VCS) mode while posing as members of the Indonesian Navy who served in Papua.

Kendari Police Chief Kombes Pol Edwin L. Sengka explained that WL knew the victim, a woman with the initials A, through Facebook social media. The perpetrator then formed an online love relationship with the victim, which was then used to extort up to Rp210 million.

"The victim believed and sent money several times to the perpetrators for various reasons. After that, the perpetrator invited the victim to do VCS and recorded it secretly to threaten the victim," said Edwin.

WL used the VCS footage to blackmail the victim, and used someone else's identity to open an account that houses the proceeds of the crime.

"The proceeds of crime are known to be used by perpetrators to play online gambling," said Edwin.