Indonesian authorities have apprehended a Chinese national, Yan Zhenxing, who was wanted by Beijing for allegedly assisting in the transfer and laundering of nearly $18 million tied to a criminal online gambling syndicate. The arrest took place on Monday at a ferry terminal in Batam, an island near Singapore.
According to Yuldi Yusman, the Director of Immigration Supervision and Enforcement, Yan’s arrest followed an Interpol red notice. These notices serve to alert law enforcement agencies worldwide to apprehend suspects sought by a specific country.
Yusman revealed that Yan, a permanent resident of Singapore, had been in Batam on vacation with his family when immigration officers detained him.
At a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday, Indonesian authorities presented Yan, who was dressed in an orange detainee shirt and a facemask. He remained silent and was not asked to make a statement.
Yan is accused by police in China’s Inner Mongolia region of transferring and laundering over 130 million Chinese yuan (approximately $17.8 million) for an online gambling ring. Yusman noted that Yan has been handed over to Indonesia’s National Central Bureau Interpol, and discussions regarding his deportation or extradition to China are expected to take time.
This arrest follows a similar one in Bali two months ago, where Chinese authorities sought the arrest of a suspect involved in an investment scam that defrauded clients in China of more than $14 billion.
Yusman emphasized Indonesia’s commitment to preventing foreign nationals who could destabilize national security from entering the country. “We are dedicated to protecting Indonesia’s territory from individuals who pose a threat,” he stated.
Indonesia, located at the crossroads of Asia and the South Pacific, is a hotspot for international organized crime, attracting criminals due to its strategic location.
In recent months, Indonesian authorities have made significant arrests. Last month, they apprehended Hector Aldwin Pantollana, a Filipino fugitive accused of defrauding clients in the Philippines of over $67 million. Another arrest involved Alice Guo, a former Filipino mayor with suspected ties to Chinese criminal networks. Guo was detained near Jakarta in September and deported back to the Philippines.
In June, Chaowalit Thongduang, one of Thailand’s most wanted fugitives, was arrested in Bali after months on the run. He was later flown back to Thailand to face charges related to multiple murders and drug trafficking.
