West Java Provincial Employees Involved in Online Gambling Face Potential Dismissal Sanctions

The West Java Provincial Government (Pemprov Jabar) is taking firm action against thousands of its employees detected as being involved in online gambling activities. Based on a report from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK), as many as 2,694 employees within the Pemprov Jabar environment were indicated to have conducted these illegal transactions.

Head of the Regional Civil Service Agency (BKD) of West Java Province, Dedi Supandi, revealed that after further investigation of the data, 2,663 state civil servants are now being followed up. This figure is the result of filtering the initial data, after deducting employees who have retired, transferred agencies, or previously undergone disciplinary punishment.

Of the total 2,663 verified employees, the majority of perpetrators are Government Employees with Work Agreements (PPPK). Dedi detailed that 419 individuals are civil servants (PNS), while the remainder are PPPK, with the largest group being part-time PPPK at 1,091 individuals.

This finding has come under sharp scrutiny because the total recorded transaction value reached a staggering figure of approximately Rp14 billion. The nominal transaction amounts per individual varied greatly, starting from Rp10,000 up to a peak of Rp600 million by an employee in one agency.

Dedi Supandi stressed that online gambling activities have a systemic negative impact on the work environment and personal lives of state civil servants. These impacts range from a significant decline in performance, indications of becoming lazy employees, to triggering domestic conflicts that lead to divorce.

“If the nominal amount used exceeds their take-home pay, then we must conduct a deeper investigation,” Dedi asserted on Tuesday (15/7). Currently, 279 individuals are in the intensive investigation stage by their respective direct supervisors.

The West Java Provincial Government has prepared tiered sanctions based on the level of violation. BKD West Java urges all employees to maintain their honour and professionalism, especially amidst the high interest of people from outside the region wishing to serve in West Java through the talent scouting scheme. Dedi requested that employees immediately cease online gambling activities before stricter legal action is imposed.