Businessicy – The Chairman of the Financial Services Authority (OJK), Mahendra Siregar, has announced that the OJK is currently investigating accounts potentially linked to online gambling. If violations are confirm, legal actions will be take against those involved. Mahendra Siregar emphasized that achieving a prosperous Indonesia faces significant challenges, including corruption and criminal activities that exploit the financial services sector, such as illegal online lending, fraudulent investments, and online gambling.
“We must view corruption as an extraordinary crime that cannot be eradicate by one party alone. Therefore, synergy and cooperation among all stakeholders are essential in combating it, including the crucial role of OJK employees’ families, to foster an anti-corruption mindset in Indonesia and create a healthy, integrity-driven financial services ecosystem,” said Mahendra, in a statement on Tuesday, August 13, 2024.
Regarding illegal activities in the financial services industry, particularly online gambling, the OJK has already close over 6,000 accounts suspect of being involved in such activities across various banks. The OJK has also investigated the profiles of the account holders and has urged banks to take necessary actions, including reporting the findings to the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK).
He also noted that various other steps have been taken, and going forward, the OJK will continue to work closely with government ministries, institutions, and law enforcement agencies to further investigate, scrutinize, and pursue legal proceedings against those suspect or proven to have engaged in online gambling activities.
“OJK is committed to protecting the public, consumers, and vulnerable groups from harmful and illegal activities,” he added.
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In the same context, the Chairman of the OJK Audit Board, Sophia Wattimena, stressed the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders to strengthen governance and integrity in the Financial Services Sector amidst the current challenges.
“OJK urges all stakeholders, both at the central and regional levels, to collaborate with OJK in strengthening governance and integrity in the financial services sector. This is essential to creating a competitive financial services sector that plays an optimal role in driving sustainable economic growth, leading to Indonesia’s golden era by 2045,” concluded Sophia.
The OJK has reiterated its commitment to eradicating online gambling. Offenders may eventually find themselves blacklisted by financial institutions, including banks.
Mahendra Siregar mentioned that the OJK is actively blocking accounts linked to online gambling, in cooperation with several parties, including banks.
“Yes, what we are continuing to do with financial institutions, including banks, is to thoroughly investigate the account holders whose accounts have been block,” said Mahendra during an event at the Pullman Hotel, Jakarta, on Friday, August 9, 2024.
One of the primary targets of the investigation is to identify the owners of accounts used for online gambling. This effort will eventually extend beyond the bank in question to include other banks associated with the same identity.
“In the end, it’s not the account that is at fault, but the individual. So, even if one account is block, if the person has caused problems for the integrity of financial institutions by engaging in illegal activities, they must face the consequences,” he explained.
In blocking these accounts, banks, the OJK, and law enforcement agencies are collaborating to verify the use of these accounts for online gambling. Currently, more than 6,000 accounts associate with online gambling have been block.
Following further investigation, account holders link to online gambling could be blacklist by financial institutions.
“But again, if this can be process and it is prove that they have violated existing laws, then all of their accounts and the individual could be blacklist from financial institutions. However, this must follow due process,” he clarified.
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