Central Java Police Uncover Inter-Provincial Motorcycle Credit Fraud Syndicate, 87 Vehicles Seized
The Central Java Police (Polda Jateng) have successfully uncovered a motorcycle credit fraud syndicate operating across multiple provinces. In the operation, police arrested two suspects and seized 87 new motorcycles stored in a warehouse in Bandung Regency, West Java.
According to Media Indonesia, on Thursday (February 26th), dozens of new, un-registered motorcycles – some still wrapped in plastic – were displayed at the Borobudur Building at the Central Java Police headquarters. All of these vehicles are evidence from the crime that was recently retrieved from the perpetrators’ hideout.
The two suspects arrested are R, 43, a resident of Wiradesa, Pekalongan Regency, and S, 47, a resident of Warungasem, Batang Regency. Both are currently undergoing intensive questioning by investigators from the Central Java Police’s Directorate of General Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimum).
“There is still one more suspect at large, with the initials AM, who is suspected of being the mastermind behind this crime. We found 87 new motorcycles as evidence,” said the Director of General Criminal Investigation at the Central Java Police, Commissioner Muhammad Anwar Nasir.
ID Card Loan Scheme
The investigation into this case began with reports from several financing companies (leasing companies) that were experiencing a large number of loan defaults simultaneously. After an investigation, it was revealed that the perpetrators used an organized scheme.
The perpetrators sought out citizens who were willing to lend their ID cards in exchange for money. These identities were then used to apply for motorcycle credit from various financing companies.
However, after the motorcycles were received, the installment payments were never made. The motorcycles were immediately collected and shipped out of the area using railway freight services.
“The syndicate exploited the use of temporary vehicle registration documents (STCK) as a requirement for shipping because the original vehicle registration certificates (BPKB) and vehicle registration certificates (STNK) had not yet been issued,” added Anwar Nasir.
Administrative Loopholes
The police are currently investigating potential administrative loopholes in the use of STCK for shipping and the credit verification processes at around 10 financing companies that were victims.
The suspects are being charged under Articles 591 and/or 592 of Law Number 1 of 2023, with a maximum sentence of six years in prison.
“Learning from this case, the public is urged to be careful when lending their identity documents, such as ID cards, to others in exchange for certain rewards,” he concluded.