Rifaldo Aquino Pontoh, an Interpol fugitive sought in connection with\nhuman trafficking offences (TPPO) and online scam cases in Cambodia, was\napprehended in Bali. Rifaldo is now formally detained at Metro Jakarta\nPolice Headquarters.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, it is being handled by us (Directorate of General Crimes, Metro\nJakarta Police), and he has been detained,\u201d said the Director of General\nCrimes at Metro Jakarta Police Headquarters Brigadier General Iman\nImanuddin to journalists on Thursday, 12 March 2026.<\/p>\n
Iman explained that Rifaldo Aquino was initially pursued by the\nDirectorate of General Crimes at Metro Jakarta Police Headquarters in\nconnection with scamming offences. As the investigation progressed, the\nsuspect was also found to be involved in alleged human trafficking to\nforeign countries, namely Cambodia.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe initially handled the scamming case. Subsequently, it developed\ninto several allegations of human trafficking offences,\u201d he\nexplained.<\/p>\n
Rifaldo\u2019s role involved exploiting victims to become scamming\noperators abroad. Police subsequently requested a Red Notice for\nRifaldo\u2019s whereabouts, which indicated he was heading to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe victims were exploited to serve as operators in a location\nabroad. Then yesterday, one of the wanted persons for whom we had\nrequested a Red Notice was indicated to be travelling to Indonesia,\u201d he\nexplained.<\/p>\n
The Directorate of General Crimes at Metro Jakarta Police\nHeadquarters collaborated with the International Relations Division to\napprehend the perpetrator. Rifaldo is now detained at Metro Jakarta\nPolice Headquarters for further investigation.<\/p>\n
\u201cTherefore, we coordinated with the International Relations Division\nto apprehend and secure the individual concerned. Subsequently, he was\nbrought to Metro Jakarta Police Headquarters and law enforcement\nproceedings were initiated. The process is currently under way with us\n(Directorate of General Crimes, Metro Jakarta Police),\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
Arrested in Bali<\/p>\n
Previously, the Head of the International Relations Division,\nIndonesian Interpol NCB Secretariat, Brigadier General Ricky Purnama,\nstated that the arrest was carried out by a joint team of personnel from\nthe Indonesian Interpol NCB Secretariat, the Directorate of General\nCrimes at Metro Jakarta Police Headquarters and Bali\u2019s I Gusti Ngurah\nRai Airport Police, together with I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport\nImmigration.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe apprehended the Interpol Red Notice subject, Indonesian national\nRifaldo Aquino Pontoh, on Saturday, 21 February at I Gusti Ngurah Rai\nInternational Airport, Bali,\u201d said Ricky in his statement on Saturday,\n21 February.<\/p>\n
Brigadier General Ricky revealed that Rifaldo Aquino was an operator\nof an international human trafficking network and online fraud scheme in\nCambodia. He exploited social media by advertising job vacancies\npromising high salaries.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, in reality, victims suffered severe violence, including\npassport confiscation, unpaid wages, and coercive conditions that forced\nvictims to pay substantial fees to resign or return to Indonesia,\u201d he\nexplained.<\/p>\n
Rifaldo\u2019s arrest was also the result of collaboration between the\nInternational Relations Division of the Indonesian National Police and\nInterpol. Previously, on Friday, 20 February, the Indonesian Interpol\nNCB received information from Manila\u2019s NCB that Rifaldo was detected\ntransiting from Cambodia to the Philippines.<\/p>\n
From the Philippines, Rifaldo subsequently continued his journey to\nBali. This information was followed up and the team moved swiftly to\nBali and apprehended the suspect.<\/p>\n
\u201cCurrently, the individual is still undergoing intensive\ninterrogation,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rifaldo-aquino-interpol-fugitive-in-human-trafficking-and-online-scam-cases-in-cambodia-arrested-and-detained-1773298386", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }