Police arrest Nigerians, locals in fraud case

The Jakarta Police said Friday that they had apprehended three Nigerian citizens who were suspected of being involved in a fraud case. The police’s special crime unit director Sr. Comr. Mujiono said the three Nigerians were arrested in South Tangerang, Banten, and Jakarta recently. According to Mujiono, the police also detained two Indonesians who had allegedly collaborated with the foreign citizens, and added that police officers were currently searching for another two suspects; one Nigerian and one Indonesian. Mujiono said that the perpetrators had used various methods to delude their victims. One of the perpetrator’s methods involved contacting victims via Facebook and pretending to be a member of the British army whose service in Kabul, Afghanistan, had almost ended. He informed the victim that he wanted to bring money totaling US$200 million home with him, but was facing difficulties doing so. He then asked the victim to receive the money in Indonesia, which would be sent through a so- called “diplomatic agency” in Indonesia. After making an agreement on Facebook, another Indonesian perpetrator then called the victim posing as an airport officer. The perpetrator told the victim that he could not pass immigration unless the victim paid a sum of money for the security check and other permit documents. “The perpetrator requested the victim pay Rp 655 million (US$48,431),” Mujiono said. Mujiono said the perpetrators were being charged under article 378 of the criminal code with a maximum 20 years behind bars and a Rp 10 million fine. They will also be also charged under article 28 of the information and technology law with a maximum six years behind bars and a Rp 1 billion fine.