Jakarta, IDN Times – Ahmad Sahroni, Deputy Chairman of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), has urged the National Police (Polri) and the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) to aggressively pursue the financiers behind an international online gambling syndicate operating in West Jakarta.
Sahroni firmly believes that it is inconceivable for 320 foreign nationals, implicated in this illicit enterprise within the Hayam Wuruk Plaza Tower area, to operate without the powerful backing of key figures working behind the scenes. He emphasized the critical need for a thorough investigation into their benefactors.
“The National Police must collaborate with PPATK to trace the financial flows from the sponsors of this illicit business. Who pays their salaries? Who provides the facilities? There must be financiers. It is simply impossible for over 300 foreign nationals to operate without powerful actors supporting them,” Sahroni told reporters on Monday (May 11, 2026).
1. Polri Urged to Investigate Local Network Involvement 
The NasDem Party’s Treasurer General, Sahroni, suspects the involvement of local groups or networks in the operations of this international online gambling syndicate. Consequently, he has pressed the National Police and PPATK to meticulously track all transaction trails associated with this illicit network.
“There is a strong suspicion of local network involvement. Regardless of whether they are foreign nationals or Indonesian citizens, everyone must be apprehended without favoritism. The National Police and PPATK must eradicate this problem completely, getting to its very roots,” Sahroni asserted.
2. Foreign National Suspects Must Face National Law 
Furthermore, Sahroni demanded that all apprehended perpetrators be prosecuted under Indonesian law. He issued a stern reminder that no suspect should evade the reach of national legal processes, emphasizing the importance of upholding justice within the country’s jurisdiction.
“Most importantly, all these arrested perpetrators must be processed legally in Indonesia,” he stated. “They committed crimes here, so no one should escape without first being held accountable for their actions according to the laws applicable in Indonesia,” Sahroni added emphatically.
3. National Police Criminal Investigation Unit Uncovers International Online Gambling Syndicate 
On Saturday (May 9, 2026), the National Police Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim Polri) apprehended 321 foreign nationals suspected of involvement in an international online gambling syndicate operating from the Hayam Wuruk area of West Jakarta. At the time of their arrest, they were actively engaged in various online gambling activities.
Brigadier General Wira Satya Triputra, Director of General Crimes at Bareskrim Polri, detailed the nationalities of those arrested. The majority, 228 individuals, were from Vietnam. This was followed by 57 Chinese nationals, 13 from Myanmar, 11 from Laos, 5 from Thailand, 3 from Malaysia, and 3 from Cambodia. This diverse group highlights the extensive international reach of the syndicate.
“From the perpetrators we successfully secured, the total number reached 321 individuals,” Wira stated during a press conference on Saturday.
Summary
Ahmad Sahroni, Deputy Chairman of Commission III DPR RI, has urged the National Police and PPATK to aggressively pursue the financiers behind an international online gambling syndicate in West Jakarta. He believes the 321 foreign nationals involved could not operate without powerful backing and emphasized the need to trace financial flows and investigate local network involvement. Sahroni also demanded all apprehended perpetrators be prosecuted under Indonesian law.
This urgent call followed the National Police Criminal Investigation Unit’s (Bareskrim Polri) apprehension of 321 foreign nationals on May 9, 2026. These individuals were suspected of involvement in an international online gambling syndicate operating from the Hayam Wuruk area. The arrested individuals included 228 Vietnamese, 57 Chinese, and others from Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia.