kopassus Soldiers Implicated in Jakarta Bank manager’s Kidnapping and Murder
BEKASI, INDONESIA – Two Indonesian Army soldiers from the elite Kopassus special forces unit are among 17 suspects arrested in connection with the kidnapping and murder of ilham, head of a Bank sub-Branch Office (KCP) in Central Jakarta. Ilham‘s body was discovered Thursday morning, August 21st, in rice fields in serang Baru, Bekasi, one day after being abducted from a shopping center in Ciracas, East Jakarta. The case reveals a complex plot to illicitly transfer funds from dormant bank accounts, and implicates a figure known online as “Crazy Rich Jambi.”
The investigation has uncovered a scheme where perpetrators planned to move money from inactive accounts-those with no transactions for at least three months-into pre-arranged “shelter” accounts.Authorities allege a key motivator was financial gain, with one individual, Dwi Hartono, a businessman operating an online tutoring service and known as “Crazy Rich Jambi,” playing a central role. Crucially,evidence indicates a promise of Rp. 100 million (approximately $6,500 USD) was made to a Kopassus Kacab (Branch Head) as a fee for involvement in the operation.
Police have identified the two Kopassus soldiers as Sergeant Head (Serka) N and Corporal Two (Kopda) FH. Fifteen other suspects have also been apprehended. According to authorities, the motive centers on the perpetrators’ intent to fraudulently transfer funds.
“The perpetrators’ motive for carrying out this action was to transfer money from dormant accounts to shelter accounts that had been prepared,” stated a police spokesperson.
The case is drawing national attention due to the involvement of Kopassus personnel and the brazen nature of the crime, raising questions about internal security within the military and the vulnerability of Indonesia’s banking system to sophisticated fraud. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities focused on identifying all individuals involved and recovering the stolen funds.