Majority of Foreign Online Gambling Suspects Used Pre-Investment Visas
The Directorate General of Immigration has detailed the types of visas and stay permits used by the 321 foreign nationals arrested as part of an online gambling syndicate at Hayam Wuruk Tower in West Jakarta. The majority used pre-investment visas, which are typically issued to foreigners intending to survey business potential or conduct preliminary studies before investing in Indonesia.
Director of Supervision and Enforcement at the Directorate General of Immigration, Yuldi Yusman, stated that some of the foreigners also used visas on arrival, which do not permit the holder to work. “So there has been a problematic misuse of stay permits,” Yuldi said at the National Police Criminal Investigation Department building on Friday, 26 June 2026.
Yuldi provided a breakdown of the 321 foreigners’ immigration statuses: two used a visa-free visit facility, 36 held a B1 Visit Stay Permit or visa on arrival, 10 held a C2 business visit stay permit, 120 used a C12 pre-investment stay permit, and 149 held a D12 multiple-entry pre-investment stay permit. Additionally, three individuals were on bridging visas intended for upgrading to a Limited Stay Permit (ITAS), while two held an ITAS investor permit.
The Directorate General of Immigration has obtained data on 15 sponsoring companies and plans to summon all of them for questioning. Two of the identified agencies are PT Klitz Tour and Travel and PT 1688 Prima. When Tempo visited PT Klitz’s office on Wednesday, 10 June 2026, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) was conducting a search of the premises. Employees of both companies confirmed they processed immigration documents for some of the foreigners involved in the online gambling network but denied any involvement in the gambling operations themselves. Tempo has sent interview requests to both companies but has yet to receive a response.
Police have named 287 of the 321 foreigners as suspects. The group comprises 76 Chinese nationals, three Laotians, two Malaysians, 15 Myanmar nationals, six Thais, and 185 Vietnamese citizens. They allegedly served as customer service agents, programmers, marketing and finance administrators, and trainees for operating the gambling websites.
Investigators have since discovered that the syndicate managed 145 online gambling sites, a significant increase from the initial estimate of 75 domains controlled from the Hayam Wuruk Tower Plaza. Four Indonesian citizens have also been named as suspects. Brigadier General Wira Satya Triputra, Director of General Crimes at Bareskrim Polri, identified them by the initials MAP, BT, DFA, and DA.
MAP allegedly acted as the syndicate’s finance administrator and was arrested during the raid on the 20th and 21st floors of Hayam Wuruk Tower Plaza on Thursday, 7 May 2026. MAP also served as a direct liaison to Lio Hongyu, also known as LEO or LTH, a Chinese national suspected of being the syndicate’s coordinator. Investigators tracked Lio’s departure from Indonesia shortly after the raid and believe he is currently in China.
BT allegedly assisted with renting the 20th and 21st floors of the tower, while DFA was responsible for preparing bank accounts and ATM cards used to fund the syndicate’s operations. DA managed the syndicate’s finances, helped convert money into cryptocurrency, and handled the foreign nationals’ stay permits. During its approximately two months of operation, the syndicate allegedly collected online gambling deposits worth Rp 13.9 trillion, of which Rp 1.69 trillion was profit. Police raided the operation on Thursday, 7 May 2026.