Bangka Belitung Police Arrest Five Debt Collectors Allegedly Involved in Illegal Vehicle Seizures
A joint team from the Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimsus) and the Operational Team of the Bangka Belitung Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit (Jatanras) arrested five debt collectors allegedly involved in cases of fiduciary crime, embezzlement, and misappropriation of vehicles in the Pangkalpinang area.
The Head of Public Relations of the Bangka Belitung Police, Kombes Agus Sugiyarso, stated that the five perpetrators came from various regions, namely West Jakarta, Central Maluku, and Kupang City, East Nusa Tenggara.
“These five debt collectors were arrested for allegedly being involved in cases of fiduciary crime, embezzlement, and misappropriation, which harmed many parties and financing companies,” said Agus on Sunday (17/5).
The arrests were made after the police received reports from the public and found irregularities in the vehicle seizure activities carried out by the perpetrators. The police suspect that the method used to seize vehicles did not comply with the applicable power of attorney.
“The modus operandi used is suspected to be inconsistent with the applicable power of attorney and is closely related to the fiduciary collateral belonging to the financing company,” he said.
From the investigation, the police found that the vehicles seized from consumers or recipients of transferred rights were not handed over to the financing company as the recipient of the fiduciary guarantee. Instead, these vehicles were stored and controlled by the debt collector group.
“Instead of being officially handed over, these vehicles were actually stored, hidden, and unilaterally controlled by the debt collection group,” Agus revealed.
During the raid, the police confiscated several pieces of evidence, including nine units of various car brands, five mobile phones, one sheet of iron, eight sets of documents and important letters, and a number of fake vehicle license plates.
“The seized evidence includes nine four-wheeled vehicles of various brands, five mobile phones, one sheet of iron, eight sets of documents and important letters, and a number of vehicle license plates that were declared to be counterfeit,” he explained.
Agus added that the debt collector network had been operating for about a month in the Bangka Belitung area. During their operation, the perpetrators allegedly seized 247 vehicles, most of which had been transported to Jakarta.
“During their one-month operation in Bangka Belitung, the perpetrators have seized 247 vehicles, and most of them have been taken to Jakarta,” he said.
Currently, the five perpetrators along with the evidence have been detained at the Bangka Belitung Police for further investigation. The perpetrators face a minimum prison sentence of two years and a maximum of four years.
The Bangka Belitung Police also appealed to the public to ensure the legality and identity of parties carrying out vehicle seizures to avoid illegal practices. (E-2)