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Indonesian authorities have arrested two individuals suspected of running an online money laundering operation linked to gambling proceeds.
The National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) said the suspects, identified as OHW and H, were involved in a scheme to launder gambling money through Indonesia’s QR code payment system—QRIS—and cryptocurrency.
Criminal Investigation Unit Chief Commissioner General Wahyu Widada said the suspects established and controlled companies to place, receive and move funds from illegal online gambling operations. All forms of gambling are illegal in Indonesia.
The money was later funneled through “thousands of accounts” as part of the laundering process.
Police said the suspects used a shell company, PT A2Z Solusindo Teknologi, along with its subsidiaries, to move money through thousands of bank accounts registered under the companies. The funds were allegedly collected via cash deposits and withdrawals, then transferred through the shell companies before being wired to online gambling operators. The system was designed to “make it harder to trace,” Commissioner General Wahyu said.
The laundered money was then used to purchase assets such as bonds and other financial instruments, he added.
Wahyu also said the two have reportedly been involved in gambling since 2007 and in money laundering since 2019.
During the operation, police seized assets worth a total of 530 billion Indonesian rupiah (IDR) ($32.13 million), including funds in 4,656 bank accounts across 22 banks valued at IDR 250 billion ($15.16 million), government securities worth IDR 276 million ($16,723), four luxury cars, and 197 accounts in eight banks. All confiscated funds will be transferred to the department’s special holding account.
The suspects could face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to IDR 5 billion ($302,952).
