Fifteen individuals sentenced 10 months for involvement in illegal online gambling in Indonesia

Fifteen men in North Sumatra have been sentenced to 10 months in jail and fined Rp50m (US$3,362) each for their involvement in illegal online gambling.

A verdict has been reached in a court in Medan District, North Sumatra, against 15 men who were found guilty of participating in illegal online gambling. Each of them has been sentenced to 10 months in jail and fined Rp50m (US$3,362). Originally, prosecutors had sought 18-month prison terms, but the presiding judge, Dahlan Tarigan, took into consideration mitigating factors such as the fact that this was their first offense, their good behavior, and their expressions of remorse.

The trial of the alleged mastermind, Jonni, also known as Apin BK, is currently underway as reported by The Star. Jonni is facing charges that include illegal online gambling, money laundering, and violations of the Information and Electronic Transactions Law.

According to prosecutors, Jonni is accused of setting up a facility with approximately 20 rooms in the Krakatau multi-centre warehouse complex in Medan in 2017, which was allegedly used to assist bookmakers. It is further alleged that Jonni expanded his illegal business by purchasing four storehouses in a housing complex.

Jonni is currently being charged under Article 303 of the Criminal Code (KUHP) and Article 3 of Law No. 8/2010 on the prevention and eradication of money laundering. He is accused of operating over 20 online betting platforms from a café located in Deli Serdang. Sources indicate that Jonni may have been earning up to Rp1bn per day from his illegal activities. After initially escaping to Singapore, Jonni was eventually apprehended in Malaysia in October of this year.