Jakarta. Indonesian police on Thursday revealed a major bank fraud involving illegal transfers worth Rp 204 billion ($12.2 million) from dormant accounts at a state bank branch in West Java.

Brigadier General Helfi Assegaf, director of economic crimes at the National Police Headquarters, said the transfers were carried out after a bank syndicate coerced the branch head into surrendering a user ID for the bank’s core banking system and a teller’s access code.

The syndicate threatened the safety of the branch manager and his family if he refused to comply.

“Rp 204 billion was transferred into five receiving accounts through 42 transactions in just 17 minutes,” Helfi told reporters. “The syndicate forced the branch head to hand over the user ID. If he refused, his safety and his family’s safety were at risk.”

Police said the scheme began in early June after the syndicate posed as members of the government’s Asset Recovery Task Force to secure meetings with the bank manager. On June 20, after several encounters, they executed the transfers.

The operation was timed after banking hours on a Friday to avoid triggering internal detection systems. According to investigators, one of the perpetrators was a former bank teller who used insider knowledge to help carry out the unauthorized transfers.

Nine Suspects Named
The National Police have named nine suspects, including bank employees, syndicate members, and money-laundering operatives.

Authorities also seized evidence, including Rp 204 billion in cash, 22 mobile phones, a hard disk, two DVR CCTV units, a mini personal computer, and a notebook. The identities of the suspects have yet to be disclosed.

Police say investigations are ongoing to trace the broader network and recover any additional assets linked to the illegal transfers.

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