Indonesia Police Arrest 148 Chinese Nationals for Cyber Crime

By Azeman Ariffin JAKARTA, Aug 1 (Bernama) -- The authorities have arrested 148 Chinese nationals and crippled a cyber crime network that preyed on fellow countrymen who had visited Indonesia, according to online media reports. The reports quoted Rikwanto, head of the public information bureau of the Indonesian Police, as saying that the arrests were made in a special two-day operation at the weekend in the Jakarta, Batam, Bali and Surabaya provinces. The modus operandi of the network was to pose as Indonesian authorities and contact the Chinese nationals who had visited Indonesia and claiming that they had committed an offence while in the country. Rikwanto said the criminals would offer a solution by asking the individuals to deposit a sum of money into certain bank accounts. He said many of the victims realised that they had been cheated and lodged police reports in China. Rikwanto said the police launched the special operation after obtaining information from the Chinese authorities. They raided several rented houses in the four provinces and arrested them. Those arrested were being held at the Metro Jaya Police Station here, he said. Media reports indicate that 1.36 million Chinese nationals visited Indonesia last year and the number was expected to be higher this year. -- BERNAMA