Locksmith Reveals Sophisticated Safe Containing 74 kg of Gold in Bogor Had Double-Layered Steel
A locksmith called to assist police in opening a safe during a raid in Sentul, Bogor, has revealed the container was a sophisticated model with a double-layered steel body. The safe, which held 74 kilograms of gold bullion, was discovered during searches related to three major corruption cases involving state-owned enterprises PLN, ASABRI, and Krakatau Steel.
The locksmith, identified as Roy, said the safe was not a standard metal box but a high-security model with a combination dial and a manual key lock. “The security system was excellent. It used a combination lock and a manual key, so it had two locks. It was a sophisticated, expensive safe. The steel had two layers, so it was definitely not just an ordinary iron box safe,” Roy stated at the scene on Thursday.
Roy was initially contacted by the Bogor Police to assist with the breach. He estimated the advanced safe would cost upwards of Rp 20 million. After defeating the manual lock, the team used a cutting machine or grinder to complete the breach, a process that took approximately 15 minutes. “We just went straight at it, moved quickly, cut it with the grinder and opened it immediately. It took about 15 minutes,” he added.
He described the safe’s location as being on the second floor of the house, concealed behind a wardrobe. Unlike a typical freestanding metal box, the safe door opened into a small room built into the wall, measuring roughly 1.5 metres by 80 centimetres. Roy noted he could see suitcases inside the room from his position outside.
Police discovered the safe during a search of a residence in the Sentul area of Bogor, West Java. Inside, they found 74 kilograms of gold bars, along with cash in rupiah, US dollars, and Singapore dollars, with a total estimated value of Rp 476 billion. The seizure is linked to investigations into corruption at the state electricity company PLN, the armed forces insurer ASABRI, and the steel maker Krakatau Steel.
Kakortas Tipidkor Polri, Inspector General Totok Suharyanto, confirmed the safe was locked and contained seven suitcases. “We found a locked safe, and when opened it contained seven suitcases. The first held 74 kg of gold bars, then USD 4,767,300, SGD 14,038,800, and Rp 100 million. The total estimated value in rupiah is Rp 476 billion,” he said.
The investigation has drawn the attention of President Prabowo Subianto. The Head of Public Relations for the Metro Jaya Regional Police, Senior Commissioner Budi Hermanto, stated that the probe into bribery, gratification, and money laundering is a priority for the President. The cases are connected to alleged corruption in coal procurement at PLN, which contributed to blackouts in Sumatra, as well as financial mismanagement at ASABRI and Krakatau Steel.