Woman In East Barito Arrested For Deceiving Residents Of Up To Rp800 Million With Road Project Investment Mode

BARITO TIMUR - A woman with the initials RH (25) a resident of Dayu Village, Karusen District, East Barito Regency, Central Kalimantan, deceived 17 residents by investing in project development and earning up to 10 percent profit.

"I used the money from the fraud for a down payment and installments on cars and motorbikes," said RH during a press conference at the East Barito Police Headquarters in Tamiang Layang, as reported by Antara, Tuesday, April 5.

According to the blonde woman, the proceeds from deceiving residents under the guise of this investment have been carried out since 2019. Of the 17 victims, RH received Rp800 million.

The modus operandi is that RH admitted to getting a transportation contract and a road project from one of the oil palm plantation companies in East Barito.

"I promised a profit of 10 percent from the business. Even though I don't have the contract or the project," RH said.

The East Barito Police Chief, AKBP Afandi Eka Putra, said that five residents had already reported cases of alleged fraudulent investment fraud to his side, in addition, there were seven residents who prepared data to participate in reporting.

"There are still five residents who have not reported. We hope that they can also submit reports to the East Barito Police or to the Dusun Tengah Police," Afandi said.

He explained that this fraudulent investment fraud case continues to be in the investigation stage in the hands of the East Barito Police investigators. In this series of scams, RH launched a ruse to his victims that the money earned would later be invested in an oil palm transportation business, and a road improvement project in one of the palm oil companies in East Barito.

According to the Police Chief, being attracted by the lure of getting the 10 percent profit, the victims are lulled into the hope of getting a big profit.

"Initially the victim did benefit from the suspect, thus making the victim believe and multiply his investment money. Even though the money was from other victims' investment money," he said.

In recent months, the suspect was unable to provide the promised benefits to the victim until it was reported to the East Barito Police.

"For his actions, the suspect is threatened with Article 378 or Article 372 of the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum prison sentence of four years," Afandi said.

The East Barito Police also appealed to all people in the local district not to easily believe in investments that offer large profits in a short time.

"Residents should check if there are investment offers with large profits, so as not to become victims of fraud," he said.