Headline
Semarang Police Raid: Hotel Sita Linked to Online Gambling Syndicate”>Hotel Aruss in Semarang Raided for Alleged Links to Money Laundering from Online Gambling
Byline
CNBC Indonesia
Subhead
The Directorate of Special Economic Crime Investigations (Dirtipideksus) of the Police’s Criminal Investigation Bureau (Bareskrim) has uncovered a suspected money laundering operation involving Hotel Aruss in Semarang, Central Java. The hotel is believed to have been constructed using funds sourced from online gambling activities.
Article Body
In a press conference held in Jakarta on Monday (6/1/2025), Brigadir Jenderal Polisi Helfi Assegaf, the head of Dirtipideksus Bareskrim Polri, revealed details of a suspicious financial trail used to fund the construction of Hotel Aruss between 2020 and 2022.
The hotel, operated by PT. AJ, is suspected of being built with funds derived from money laundering activities, with the source traced back to online gambling platforms such as Dafabet, agen 138, and soccer betting. The funds were allegedly funneled through five private bank accounts, Initialize as ‘FH’, and supplemented by cash deposits from individuals identified as ‘GP’ and ‘AS’.
Helfi explained that the suspects used shell companies and nominee accounts to obscure the origin of the gambling proceeds, before transferring and withdrawing the funds to be used in construction.
"The laundered money was then deposited into the account of a company not directly affiliated with the online gambling platform, used to finance the construction of Hotel Aruss," he explained.
The hotel, located on Jalan Dr. Wahidin, Semarang, is estimated to be worth around Rp 200 billion and has now been seized by authorities as part of the ongoing investigation.
Hotel Aruss is believed to be just one in a network of assets acquired through illicit activities. Those found guilty of money laundering under the Anti-Money Laundering Law No. 8/2010 could face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to Rp 10 billion. Meanwhile, online gambling operators could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to Rp 25 million under the Criminal Code.
Helfi reassured that investigations are ongoing to expose more individuals involved in the online gambling network and money laundering operations, stating that "The seizure of Hotel Aruss is just the beginning in unraveling more illegal activities."
The seizure of the hotel is seen as a significant step towards recovering illicitly obtained assets and serving as a deterrent to similar practices in the future.
