Padel Racket Business Fraud Ring Operating from Within Binjai Penitentiary

JAKARTA — A syndicate of fraudsters from Grogol Petamburan in West Jakarta have been conducting a padel racket business scam from within the Binjai Penitentiary in North Sumatra.

“With assistance from Langkat police, we eventually discovered that the fraudsters were inside Binjai penitentiary. They are all inmates convicted in an ecstasy smuggling case and have been imprisoned since the end of 2024,” said victim Lenny when confirmed by Kompas.com on Wednesday (11 March 2026).

Lenny explained that the inmates operated as an organised group using mobile phones from within the penitentiary.

“They formed a syndicate and the fraud against me was assisted by one of their wives (FR) who was outside the penitentiary. FR was the one who received the cash transfers from my account,” Lenny stated.

Meanwhile, Head of Criminal Investigation at Grogol Petamburan Police Station, AKP Alexander Tengbunan, said his unit could not confirm the suspect’s status as it fell outside their jurisdiction and authority.

However, Alexander noted that the perpetrator was a recidivist drug offender.

“The perpetrator’s case involves drugs; he spent considerable time in penitentiary. While there, he connected with an online fraud group,” Alexander said when confirmed by Kompas.com.

Alexander explained that the perpetrator exploited a 20-year friendship between the victim and GJ to entice them with promises of substantial profits from a fictitious business.

“Initially, the victim was lured into a padel racket business. Then, because the victim was interested, they decided to join the business and participate. They subsequently transferred approximately 300 million rupiah,” Alexander explained.

After the money was transferred, the victim’s contact was immediately blocked and the perpetrator became unreachable.

Following an in-depth investigation into the perpetrator, it was discovered that he was a resident of Langkat in North Sumatra.

“Once we found his address, following orders from the Police Station Commander AKP Reza Aditya, we flew to Langkat to search for the perpetrator and successfully located him,” Alexander stated.

“The law now adopts a more rehabilitative and restorative approach. That is why this victim preferred to have their money returned. So at that time, we immediately settled the matter peacefully. We asked whether they wanted to resolve it amicably with the perpetrator. If so, they could arrange for a transfer, and that would settle it,” Alexander said.