Former BRI Employee Arrested in Rp 7.8 Billion Investment Fraud Case

Police in Pamekasan, East Java, have arrested a former Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) employee in connection with an alleged investment fraud case worth Rp 7.8 billion. The Head of Public Relations for the Pamekasan Police, Ipda Yoni Evan Pratama, stated that the suspect, identified by the initials MLA, had been on the police wanted list (DPO) since 2020, when the case was first reported by 17 victims.

‘The arrest was made last night at his hiding place, and the suspect is currently undergoing further examination in the Pamekasan Police investigation unit,’ Evan said on Sunday. Although he did not disclose the exact location of the hideout, Evan emphasised that the arrest demonstrates the Pamekasan Police’s firm commitment and rapid response to public reports, as well as their determination to thoroughly investigate the fraud case that harmed the 17 victims.

The police had previously issued a wanted list (DPO) on 4 December 2020, under the name Mohammad Lukman Anizar. The DPO indicated the suspect’s alleged involvement in fraud, embezzlement, or banking crimes, as stipulated in Article 378 or Article 372 of the Criminal Code (KUHP), or Article 49 paragraph (1) of Law Number 7 of 1992 concerning Banking, as amended by Law Number 10 of 1998.

Reflecting on this case, Evan urged the public to be cautious in all financial matters, even when dealing with individuals who are bank employees. ‘Based on the preliminary investigation, the transactions conducted by this former bank employee mostly occurred outside the bank. Therefore, it is best to avoid such practices to prevent similar cases from recurring,’ he said.