Credit card scammer nabbed, more arrests likely

The Jakarta Police cybercrime unit is continuing investigations into credit card fraud, having already arrested one suspect for allegedly using stolen credit card numbers to buy goods from foreign companies.

“We are still looking for possible accomplices,” head of the cybercrime unit Adj. Sr. Comr. Winston Tommy Watuliu said Sunday.

“The suspect had allegedly been engaged in these illegal activities since 2005. The loss is so far estimated to be around US$200,000, but we’re still searching for other victims.”

He said police arrested Afunk, also known variously as Brandon Lee, Chris Cornel, Danny and Randi, at an apartment building parking lot in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, last month.

The cybercrime unit worked with the Indonesian National Central Bureau, Singapore Police and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation to uncover the suspect’s identity.

Winston said the police investigation, which started three months ago, had been complicated because Afunk often changed his identity and meeting points.

“He is very cunning. We did not know what he looked like at all and didn’t want to miss him when he agreed to meet an undercover police officer,” he said.

He said Afunk had cracked the codes of credit cards issued by two U.S. banks, Citibank and Chase.

Other victims of the alleged fraud were foreign companies who sold goods to Afunk. The companies are Priam Technologies (Canada), Wagner Alternators and Supplies (USA), Summit Pump (USA), Ocean International Suppliers (USA), Diano Motorcycle Company (USA) and Matthiesen Equipment Co.(USA).

Winston said Afunk, who dropped out of Muhammadiyah University in Palembang, operated by using chat rooms to get combinations of credit card numbers.

“(For example), through the chat room, he asked someone called Vider to give him data on a platinum credit card. Later, he changed the last four numbers of the credit card randomly and tried to use it to shop at online stores to check whether it was a real account,” he said.

After getting a real credit card combination number, the detainee, who used several fake identities, allegedly placed orders with foreign companies.

“He somehow managed to deceive the victims. They realized the fraud after the two banks that issued the victims’ credit cards conducted the internal auditors and informed them about the fraud,” Winston said.

Winston did not mention what kinds of good Afunk had purchased or how he cashed in the purchases.

Police have charged Afunk under Article 378 of the Criminal Code for fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison.

“He has signed the dossier and we hope cooperation with the international law enforcement agencies can help us charge him so he faces the maximum penalty,” Winston said.

By Indah Setiawati
Source : The Jakarta Post

Monas rally attack fugitive surrenders

The leader of the Islamic Troop Command (KLI) turned himself in to the Jakarta Police on Monday night for questioning over his role in the June 1 violence at the National Monument.

MUNARMAN: (JP/R. Berto Wedhatama)

Munarman presented himself at Jakarta Police Headquarters at about 8 p.m. after more than a week in hiding.

He said he decided to surrender after learning the government had issued a joint ministerial decree banning Jamaah Ahmadiyah — a minority Islamic sect — from carrying out any activities.

“I have fulfilled my promise and proved that I am not a coward. I said in a videotape last week that I would surrender after the government disbanded Ahmadiyah,” he said.

The government announced on Monday a ministerial joint decree that “forbids Ahmadiyah followers from doing activities and spreading interpretations that deviate from Islamic teachings”.

These activities include preaching that there is another prophet after Muhammad.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Ketut Untung Yoga Ana confirmed Munarman’s surrender.

“We are currently questioning Munarman. He was accompanied by his lawyer upon his arrival at city police headquarters,” he said.

Last week, Munarman publicly claimed responsibility for the June 1 attacks on peaceful marchers at the National Monument (Monas). The violence left at least 70 members of the National Alliance for Freedom of Faith and Religion injured.

The alliance members were marching to commemorate the 63rd anniversary of Pancasila state ideology and to show support for Ahmadiyah.

Munarman, the former chairman of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation, said he did not try to evade arrest by fleeing after police named him a suspect on June 4.

“I did not run away from my responsibility. I was in hiding, waiting for the government’s firm decision on Ahmadiyah,” he said.

He said he regularly contacted his lawyer, Lukman Nur Hakim, but he did not tell anybody where he was hiding.

“I was the one who called him. Nobody could contact me,” he said.

He did appear in public last Tuesday, when he held a press conference at the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) headquarters in Petamburan, West Jakarta, the same day Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Adang Firman issued an ultimatum to FPI members involved in the Monas attack to surrender.

On Wednesday at 6 a.m., around 800 police officers were deployed to the FPI headquarters to arrest 59 members, including the group’s leader, Rizieq Shihab. The police later released 52 of those taken into custody.

Rizieq has been charged with violating Article 221 of the Criminal Code for sheltering criminals, Article 351 for oppressive acts, Article 156 for spreading hatred, Article 160 for provocation and Article 170 for assault. (The Jakarta Post)