Jakarta Police Crack Down on Illegal Online Gambling: Nine Ministry Employees Arrested
Wira Satya Triputra, the Director of the General Criminal Investigation Unit of the Jakarta Metro Police, confirmed the arrest of Kismanto and eight other government employees. They were detained in a large operation against illegal online gambling networks linked to government officials. “Nine employees from the Communications Ministry have been arrested, including an expert staff member,” said Wira in a press conference.
Kismanto tried to become a technical support staff member in 2023 to help block illegal online content but did not pass the selection process. However, he continued working at the ministry, allegedly due to a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that allowed him to evade typical employment checks. Wira noted, “This new SOP will be investigated to understand how it was implemented.”
The police are examining the roles of all suspects, including how Kismanto remained in his position despite failing to pass the recruitment process. They aim to reveal the entire network involved in this case. “We will investigate the entire mechanism of this online gambling case involving Communications Ministry employees,” Wira stated.
The Jakarta Police have identified 28 suspects in total. This group includes Alwin Jabarti Kiemas and former state-owned enterprise commissioner Zulkarnaen Apriliantony, also known as Tony Tomang. So far, 24 individuals have been arrested, with four still at large. The authorities are actively searching for them. Police have already seized cash and assets totaling Rp 167.8 billion ($10.7 million) related to this investigation.
How does the Jakarta Metro Police plan to address the public’s concerns regarding the involvement of government officials in illegal activities?
Interview with Wira Satya Triputra, Director of the General Criminal Investigation Unit of the Jakarta Metro Police
Q: Can you tell us about the recent operation that led to the arrest of Kismanto and other government employees?
Wira Satya Triputra: Our operation was aimed at dismantling illegal online gambling networks that have been linked to certain government officials. We confirmed the arrest of Kismanto and eight other employees from the Communications Ministry during this operation. This case is significant as it reveals the deep entanglement of public servants in these illegal activities.
Q: Why was Kismanto still employed by the ministry despite not passing the selection for a technical support role?
Wira: Kismanto applied for a technical position in 2023 specifically to help block illegal online content but did not succeed. However, he continued his employment, allegedly due to a newly implemented Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that allowed him to bypass the usual checks that would typically prevent such situations. We are currently investigating this new SOP to understand its ramifications and how it was applied.
Q: What steps are you taking to unravel the roles of those involved in this case?
Wira: We are thoroughly examining the involvement of all suspects. Our investigation aims to uncover how Kismanto retained his position despite his failed application, and we will scrutinize the entire mechanism that facilitated this online gambling operation. We intend to reveal the full network of individuals involved, both within and outside the Communications Ministry.
Q: You mentioned that 28 suspects were identified. Can you elaborate on that?
Wira: Yes, we have identified a total of 28 suspects, including Kismanto, who is among the nine arrested from the Communications Ministry. Notably, other figures such as Alwin Jabarti Kiemas and former state-owned enterprise commissioner Zulkarnaen Apriliantony, known as Tony Tomang, are also part of this investigation. Thus far, 24 individuals have been apprehended, while four remain fugitives, and we are actively pursuing them.
Q: What financial aspects of this case have been uncovered?
Wira: We have seized substantial assets and cash totaling Rp 167.8 billion, approximately $10.7 million, tied to this illegal operation. The financial scale of these criminal activities highlights the serious implications of corruption and misconduct within public services.
Q: How did employees of the Communications Ministry facilitate online gambling?
Wira: The arrested employees acted as facilitators, ensuring that illegal gambling websites remained accessible. Each involved staff member was reportedly compensated around Rp 8.5 million (about $545) for their role in managing approximately 1,000 gambling sites. This level of involvement from government employees is alarming and must be addressed thoroughly.
Q: What is the timeline for further developments in this investigation?
Wira: We are dedicated to conducting a comprehensive investigation. We will keep the public informed as we progress and as we bring the remaining fugitives to justice. Our efforts aim to restore integrity within the public sector and combat illegal online gambling effectively.
Many Communications Ministry employees acted as facilitators for online gambling websites. They ensured these sites remained accessible. Identified employees numbered DI, FD, SA, YR, YP, RP, AP, RD, and RR, received Rp 8.5 million ($545) per site for their services, which involved managing around 1,000 gambling websites.
Other suspects include civilians who run gambling websites and serve as bookies. Among the fugitives are four individuals—A, BN, HE, and J—thought to be managing these online gambling operations.