Earlier, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs, Budi Gunawan, formed seven desks across ministries/institutions to handle seven priority government issues, including online gambling eradication, within the first 100 days of his term.
"This is in accordance with the direction of President Prabowo Subianto. We have to break the chain (of online gambling)," the police chief informed at a press conference on Monday.
"We will work together with the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) and the Financial Services Authority (OJK)," he added.
The online gambling handling desk led by the police chief involves several ministries/institutions, including the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, PPATK, and OJK. It officially started working on Monday.
The police force will work with PPATK and OJK to map payment systems related to online gambling, cut fund flows, and close payment instruments used for online gambling transactions.
General Prabowo emphasized that the police will not play favorites in taking action against online gambling actors, both those operating in Indonesia and abroad.
However, he did not provide details on the figures involved, or those currently being targeted by the police.
At the press conference, Gunawan said that information regarding the online gambling bosses who are currently being targeted is still confidential.
"Confidentiality is important, especially regarding operational targets," he explained.
He then lauded the police's efforts to uncover online gambling networks in Indonesia.
"The online gambling desk has moved at full speed. We should appreciate the police chief and his staff," he said.
Recently, the police arrested 16 persons in connection with a case of alleged online gambling involving employees from the Communication and Digital Affairs Ministry.
The employees had the authority to check online gambling websites and block them. However, they reportedly misused their authority by not blocking such sites.
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Translator: Genta Tenri M, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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