Police Uncover Export Fish Purchase Scam Worth Rp1.07 Billion

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Criminal Investigation Unit of the Sunda Kelapa Area Police Sector has uncovered a case of fraud and misappropriation of funds related to the purchase of export-ready ribbonfish in the Muara Angke Port area, Pluit, North Jakarta, with a value reaching Rp1.07 billion.

“This case is a criminal offence of fraud or misappropriation related to the transaction for purchasing ribbonfish and ayam-ayam fish ready for export that occurred from August 2024 to April 2025,” said the Head of the Sunda Kelapa Area Police Sector, AKP Hitler Napitupulu, in Jakarta on Monday.

He stated that from January to April 2025, the victim BRN had transferred more than Rp1 billion to the female suspect with initials KSM (57). However, the shipment of goods was not commensurate with the money already sent.

“Even the suspect claims not to know where the money was used,” he said.

As a result of the incident, the victim suffered losses of Rp1,073,380,000 or Rp1.07 billion. “We arrested the perpetrator in the Sunda Kelapa area on Thursday (9/4),” said Hitler.

Officers have secured several pieces of evidence, including bank statements, transaction invoices, proof of transfers, and screenshots of WhatsApp conversations related to the transaction.

According to him, the modus operandi used by the suspect KSM was to offer export-ready fish products with promises as the main supplier. Then, she received payments without fulfilling the full delivery obligations.

“The police will soon conduct a case review and hand over the file to the Public Prosecutor (JPU),” said Hitler.

The uncovering of this case began with the victim BRN reporting the alleged fraud and misappropriation to the Sunda Kelapa Area Police Sector on 29 July 2025. In the report, the victim claimed to have suffered significant losses due to a transaction that did not match the agreement.

Initially, the victim was introduced to the suspect KSM by her husband. The suspect offered herself as the sole supplier of export-ready fish and initially sent goods according to the order in the early stages of cooperation.

However, over time, the suspect did not fulfil the agreed obligations. Even though the victim continued to make transfers via M-Banking, the amount of fish sent did not match the value of the money paid.

“Feeling harmed, the victim immediately reported the incident to the officers, and we immediately took action,” he said.