Police Reveal Case of IDR 2.7 Billion Fraud Investment in Lhokseumawe Aceh

The police showed evidence of the confiscation of a fraudulent investment case at the Lhokseumawe Police Headquarters, Tuesday (1/11/2022). ANTARA/Dedy Syahputra

BANDA ACEH - The Lhokseumawe Police, Aceh, has uncovered and arrested a man for allegedly defrauding him of a fraudulent investment in oil palm. The victim, a woman suffered a loss of IDR 2.7 billion.

Lhokseumawe Police Chief AKBP Henki Ismanto said the perpetrator had the initials F (53), a resident of Blang Lancang Village, Dewantara District, North Aceh Regency.

"The perpetrator is suspected to have been in the palm oil fraud investment business since 2020. F was arrested at a shop in North Aceh Regency some time ago", said AKBP Henki as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, November 1.

The police chief said the case was revealed when SI (26), a resident of Lancang Garam Village, Banda Sakti District, Lhokseumawe City, reported F for allegedly deceiving his mother with the initials EL (56).

From the report, said Henki, his party investigated and uncovered the case. The case began with F's meeting with EL, discussing palm oil investment on May 12, 2020.

"Previously, the victim and the perpetrator had known each other since 2010. At that time, they had worked together in the rubber business and eventually went bankrupt. From this business, F owed the victim IDR 380 million", said Henki.

During the meeting, said the Police Chief, the perpetrator promised to pay off the debt while asking for capital assistance. F argued that the capital was used for business, namely the sale and purchase of palm oil.

Perpetrator F said the palm oil was collected from the community to be sold to PT G, which is located in Tanjung Morawa, North Sumatra Province.

"The victim was lured with a profit of 10 percent of the total money invested. Then, the victim gave the first capital of IDR 27 million", said the Police Chief.

Furthermore, said Henki, the perpetrators and victims continued their business only by telephone and there were 179 transactions with a nominal value of IDR 2 million to IDR 150 million.

To convince the victim, said Henki Ismanto, the perpetrator called the victim using seven different numbers with different accents as if he were the management of PT G.

Over time, the victim became suspicious and later found out that he had been deceived because, after a long time, the lure of disbursement of IDR 7 billion from the palm oil business did not exist.

Then, the victim checked the company that the perpetrator said. However, upon inspection, the company is just an empty warehouse. The victim finally realized the business was not right. The victim and her child made a report to the Lhokseumawe Police.

In this case, the police also confiscated 47 pieces of printed paper from the victim's transfer to the suspect with a value of up to IDR 2.740 billion.

Investigators also confiscated the suspect's belongings, including cars, motorbikes, and other valuables suspected of being the result of the fraud.

"The perpetrator is charged with fraud, embezzlement, and repeated acts, namely Article 378 in conjunction with Article 372 in conjunction with Article 64 of the Criminal Code with a threat of four years in prison", said Henki.