Police still investigating 'arisan' scheme<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): City police detectives are still unable to
\ndecide the legality of the controversial Danasonic arisan savings
\nchain enterprise, which has operated for three years and has
\nabout 10 million people participating in it.<\/p>\n
Arisan is actually a periodic gathering to draw lots for an
\naggregate sum of money contributed by the members.<\/p>\n
Although the police have yet to make a decision, \"we strongly
\nhope that people won't gamble by taking part in the tricky and
\nobscure system,\" Head of Economic Crimes Investigation Division
\nLt. Col. Aryanto Sutadi told reporters yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"We're still trying find as much information as possible so
\nthat we can prove that the firm is illegal,\" said Aryanto, who
\nwas accompanied by spokesman Lt. Col. Bambang Haryoko.<\/p>\n
Police also need strong support from other related parties and
\ninstitutions to help stop the allegedly illegal and deceitful
\nDanasonic chain savings system which has caused huge financial
\nlosses to many people, he said.<\/p>\n
According to Aryanto, the investigation on the operation of PT
\nEkasapta Mitra, the company which runs the Danasonic chain arisan
\nsystem, started three months ago.<\/p>\n
He explained that police have found that the enterprise lacks
\nthe necessary license for their operation.<\/p>\n
Previously, the company held a trading license for
\nadministration services but today it is only allowed to trade in
\nfurniture, electronic goods and industrialized items, as
\nstipulated on its recent permit, Aryanto said.<\/p>\n
\"But, it's not our task to withdraw a trading license of such
\na company,\" Aryanto said.<\/p>\n
Like many other similar chain arisan savings systems, the
\nDanasonic scheme requires a new participant to pay Rp 10,000
\n(US$4.50) to the participants whose names are listed at the top
\nand the bottom (fifth) of the coupon.<\/p>\n
The newcomer then confirms the transaction by sending Rp
\n11,000 to PT Ekasapta Mitra for administration fees which, in
\nturn, will send him or her four other extra coupons with his name
\nlisted at fifth place.<\/p>\n
The name previously listed at first place is removed, with the
\nother four names respectively moving up on the list.<\/p>\n
If the newcomer succeeds in selling the four extra coupons at
\nRp 10,000 each, he or she will earn an extra Rp 9,000.<\/p>\n
Later, if buyers of the person's coupons can actively sell
\nthem to other active participants, he or she can earn up to a
\nmaximum of Rp 10.24 million.<\/p>\n
According to Aryanto, tentative police investigation reveals
\nthat the scheme run by PT Ekasapta Mitra, whose head office is
\nlocated on Jl. Raya Pasar Minggu in South Jakarta, has attracted
\nabout 10 million participants from all over the country.<\/p>\n
\"Everybody can easily find out that the firm has earned a huge
\namount of money totaling Rp 110 trillion,\" the officer said.<\/p>\n
But, there are a great number of participants which failed to
\nfind new buyers whereas they already spent Rp 31,000 to register
\nas a newcomer, he said.<\/p>\n
Police have summoned Sindi Husain and his wife, Anneke
\nKolondam, respectively commissioner and president of PT Ekasapta
\nMitra, on at least three occasions in the past few months. No
\narrest warrant has been issued as yet.<\/p>\n
Sindi commented: \"We're ready to be questioned at any time and
\nwill be pleased if the police decide as soon as possible which
\nrules, specifically, we have violated.\"<\/p>\n
According to Sindi, the police's delay in arriving at a
\nconclusion has tarnished the image of the Danasonic chain savings
\nsystem. \"If we're in the wrong, police can arrest us at anytime
\nand seize all the available evidence,\" said Sindi.<\/p>\n
He also guaranteed that his company has a legal trading
\npermit.<\/p>\n
In order to avoid further public losses, police have also
\nblockaded all money transferred to the company through post
\noffices and certain banks in the city.<\/p>\n
\"We don't want seriously complicated problems in the future,
\nparticularly when the scheme is declared illegal later,\" Aryanto
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"So, we have to anticipate it from now,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"I assure that the money is still there, we have not taken
\nit,\" he added. \"What we have done is to disallow the company to
\nuse the money which would only exacerbate the situation.\" (bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-still-investigating-arisan-scheme-1447893297",
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