While politicizing economic issues has become a major theme in this year’s presidential campaigns, using political issues to reap economic benefits has also become a thing recently — albeit illegally.
The Jakarta Metro Police’s Cyber Crimes Unit on Friday night arrested a 39-year-old man named Ikshan Seno Prabu on suspicion of financial scamming for offering his victims fake loans.
To his victims, Ikhsan promised loans of IDR15 million (US$1,065) which the borrowers wouldn’t have to pay back should President Joko Widodo secure re-election in April.
The only catch was that his victims had to pay IDR500,000-650,000 in administrative fees to be eligible for the IDR15 million loan.
“He went door-to-door visiting his prospective victims to take surveys and pictures, the warung (small family owned kiosks) owners believed him and were able to be persuaded,” Jakarta Metro Police spokesperson Argo Yuwono said yesterday, as quoted by Merdeka.
Ikhsan, who told his victims that the loan was being financed by foundations set up by prominent Jokowi supporters such as Yenny Wahid and media mogul/politician Hary Tanoesoedibjo, managed to dupe 14 people who were promised to get their loans in late December 2018. The scam earned Ikhsan a total of about IDR10 million from his victims, which police say the unemployed man used to pay for his daily needs.
If convicted, Ikhsan could face up to four years in prison on charges of fraud and embezzlement.
