Indonesian police launched an operation to dismantle a transnational call center gang, arresting 13 Japanese men after they impersonated police officers to scam victims in Japan through video calls and online platforms, causing extensive harm.
Yuldi Yusman, Acting Director General of Indonesia's Immigration Department, revealed that all suspects, aged between 40 and 45, were arrested on 2 March in Sentul, a residential and business area on the hills in Bogor Regency, West Java Province, near Jakarta.
The case began with local complaints about suspicious behavior observed since February. Authorities expanded the investigation through undercover surveillance and on-site inspections, confirming illegal activities occurring inside the residence, involving a group of Japanese nationals.
Preliminary investigations indicate the suspects belonged to a phone and online scam network targeting elderly Japanese victims. They used internet calls and video calls, wore police uniforms, and displayed fake police badges to gain trust and pressure victims into transferring money. Seized evidence included Japanese police uniforms, fake badges, numerous mobile phones and tablets, internet routers, and suspects’ passports.
Although hundreds of victims in Japan have been identified, the total financial damage remains unquantified as the suspects have refused to cooperate without the presence of Japanese diplomats or legal representatives.
Yusman stated this is the first time Indonesian immigration officials have arrested Japanese nationals in such a fraud case, where both perpetrators and victims are Japanese. Most suspects entered Indonesia on tourist visas, with the remainder on business visas.
Currently, Indonesia's immigration office is coordinating with the Japanese Embassy in Jakarta to verify original documents and discuss with the Japanese government the process for extraditing the suspects.
The suspects may be violating multiple Indonesian laws, including the criminal code, electronic information and transactions law, and immigration regulations.
,NHK
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