5 Facts About Online Gambling Using Live Pornography Uncovered by Polda Metro
Online gambling operations are becoming increasingly varied in their attempts to ensnare the public, even reaching the lower strata of society. Most recently, Polda Metro Jaya uncovered an alleged online gambling operation using pornographic live streaming. The case involving online gambling, digital pornography, and money laundering was dismantled by the Indonesian National Police and was conducted through the HOT51 application. Suspects range from individuals to corporations.
Police have named individual and corporate suspects in the alleged online gambling, digital pornography, and money laundering case via the HOT51 application. “In this case, investigators have detained 8 individual suspects and 5 corporate suspects, and have placed one Chinese foreign national on the wanted list,” said Polda Metro Jaya Chief, Commissioner General Asep Edi Suheri, at his office on Friday (26/6). The nine individuals named as suspects include WS, BF, RM, OV, XR, and MPN, while the foreign national on the wanted list is SB. The five corporate suspects are PT HSR, PT PDN, PT MDS, PT CDS, and PT IDI.
The individual suspects are charged under Article 426 of the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of 9 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to Rp 2 billion. They are also charged under Article 407 of the Criminal Code concerning Pornography Offences, with a minimum sentence of 6 months and a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment, and a fine ranging from Rp 200 million to Rp 2 billion. Furthermore, Article 607 of the Criminal Code on money laundering is applied, carrying a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to Rp 5 billion. The five corporations are charged under various articles of the Criminal Code concerning corporate crimes, with penalties including imprisonment under 7 years and a maximum corporate fine of Rp 2 billion.
Polda Metro Jaya revealed that the illicit fund turnover reached Rp 559 billion, while the cash seized amounted to Rp 14.9 billion. “This syndicate managed illicit funds with a combined volume of Rp 559,848,693,338,” said Polda Metro Jaya’s Director of General Criminal Investigation, Senior Commissioner Iman Imanuddin, during a press conference. He stated that the money was circulated by partner payment gateway companies. PT IDI managed Rp 161.8 billion, PT MDS managed Rp 68.2 billion, and PT CDS managed Rp 26.3 billion. Investigators have blocked 118 bank accounts and virtual accounts and seized cash totalling Rp 14,962,046,000. “This scheme clearly illustrates how the criminal funds from the HOT51 application were collected and disguised through the misuse of corporate payment gateway virtual account facilities and shell company accounts,” he explained. The illicit funds were distributed in a structured manner to pay the gambling and pornography agency network.
Based on the investigation results, the application was used for gambling and live broadcasts containing pornography. The large sums of money from online gambling in the application were then channelled into manual gambling businesses, meaning non-online gambling. At least two gambling businesses disguised as game centres were uncovered by Polda Metro Jaya, namely Disney Timezone and Sky Timezone. “Investigators found the use of a shell company pattern and the disguising of fund flows with an indicated transaction turnover of around Rp 559.8 billion, consisting of Rp 900 million per month for the gambling business at Disney Timezone from December 2025 to June 2026, and Rp 1.2 billion per month for the Sky Timezone gambling business from May to June 2026,” he detailed.
The perpetrators deceived the banking system to carry out their actions. The HOT51 application tricked the national banking system by using bank deposit channels via virtual accounts managed by payment gateways PT PDN and PT HSR, as well as a company account belonging to PT KAJP. The investigation began with a cyber patrol conducted by the police, followed by an in-depth ‘follow the money’ analysis. “In the initial enforcement phase, the investigation team made simultaneous arrests in several jurisdictions, including East Java, Aceh, and the Polda Metro Jaya jurisdiction,” said Iman.
As an asset recovery measure and to prevent capital flight, police blocked more than 100 accounts related to this case. “Investigators blocked 118 accounts and virtual accounts, seized Rp 14.96 billion in cash, and confiscated corporate deeds, electronic evidence, and supporting documents,” said Commissioner General Asep Edi Suheri. The police chief stated that uncovering this gambling and money laundering case is a commitment.