Indonesian govt to investigate online gambling within state bodies

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Online Gambling Eradication Task Force will investigate the practices of online gambling within ministries and agencies, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Hadi Tjahjanto stated in Jakarta on Friday.

Tjahjanto, who is also the task force head, noted that the investigation would commence after the task force had prepared a list of government institutions whose employees are suspected of involvement in online gambling.

“The task force is currently compiling a list of ministries and agencies whose employees are involved in online gambling,” he added. “This list will be submitted once finalized.”

The task force is formulating the list based on reports it is receiving, including from regional governments, he added.

After completing the list, he remarked that the Financial Transaction Reporting and Analysis Center (PPATK), as part of the task force, will track the bank accounts of government officials suspected of involvement in online gambling.

The Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) of the National Police will then conduct an investigation to bring the online gamblers to court, Tjahjanto said.

However, he did not give details on the ministries or agencies included in the list.

On June 14, President Joko Widodo signed a presidential decree that officiated the establishment of the Online Gambling Eradication Task Force.

Jokowi earlier remarked that the task force would be mandated to accelerate the elimination of online gambling in Indonesia.

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