JAKARTA: Indonesia’s war against online gaming has intensified, with the government notice that the problem runs rampant across the government’s legal services sectors even as it prosecutions social media influencers it alleges were promoting such activities.  ,
On Tuesday ( Jun 25 ), the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Hadi Tjahjanto stated that people working in online gambling come from a variety of backgrounds, including those in the police, the military, and other government employees.  ,
“( They come ) from ministries, there are members of the military, the police, and others ( that are engaged in online gambling ). We have given the names to the organizations ‘ heads, according to Mr. Hadi, who is also the Task Force’s president, according to Tempo.  ,
In addition, seven social media influencers were detained in the provinces of Banten and Lampung for allegedly promoting online gaming sites. Eighteen people were arrested following investigations into three website betting sites: WNX Bet, W88, and Ciputra League.  ,
” From the suspects, we gathered evidence of 4.7 billion rupiah ( US$ 291, 000 ) in cash, three cars, 114 mobile phones, 96 account books, 145 ATM ( cards ), nine laptops, and five ( digital ) tokens”, Mr Hadi said, adding that the authorities had already blocked some 6, 000 bank accounts related to online gambling.  ,
The number is higher than the 5, 000 bank accounts that the government claimed last week had been blocked.  ,
Mr. Hadi emphasized on Tuesday that the top priority of his task force is the well-being of Indonesians, with conscious efforts being made to eradicate online gambling sites.  ,
” The important thing is to save the Indonesian persons first, then we will simultaneously cut off the gamblers”, he said.
According to a report released on June 22 by the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center, there were approximately three million people involved in the accumulated 600 trillion ringgit ( US$ 36.5 billion ) full accumulated deals for online wagering in the first quarter of 2024. Among these, around 2.19 million are lower- income people.
Minister of State for Apparatus Utilization and Bureaucratic Reform Abdullah Azwar Anas in the meantime stated in local media that detailed measures were required to address the issue of civil servants working in online gaming.  ,
” I do n’t know how many ( civil servants are involved in online gambling ). But I think the police have done a good job at combating ( the problem ), though we need comprehensive measures”, he said, according to The Jakarta Globe.
The agency’s spokeswoman, Mr Mohammad Averrouce, said that they will continue to take punitive action against civil workers to suppress the spread of online gaming.  ,
He stated that if a civil servant is detained and found criminal, legal proceedings may follow in addition to disciplinary proceedings.  ,
” So they can even be imprisoned. According to Detik, the constitutional process can go hand in hand with administrative steps, according to Mr. Averrouce.
Another department, meanwhile, has announced plans to show a list of state civil servants involved in online gaming, starting with those within its own rates.  ,
” On Thursday, we will reveal people from the Ministry of Communication and Informatics who are also exposed”, said its Minister, Mr Budi Arie Setiadi.
Online gaming has spread to Indonesia, according to local media, which has resulted in more criminal behaviour, including family-related violence.  ,
In a situation that has raised the issue of online gambling in Indonesia, a estimate was charged with murdering her husband, a fellow police officer, by burning him to death because of his addiction to gambling.