5-12-2024 (JAKARTA) Indonesian immigration authorities have apprehended a Chinese national wanted internationally for his alleged role in a multi-million-dollar money laundering scheme linked to illegal gambling operations in China.
The suspect, identified as Yan Zhenxing, was taken into custody during a routine check at the Batam ferry terminal whilst attempting to enter Indonesia for a holiday with family members. Batam, an Indonesian island, sits adjacent to Singapore, where Yan holds permanent residency.
Speaking at a press briefing in Jakarta on Thursday, Immigration Enforcement Director Yuldi Yusman revealed that the arrest was executed following an Interpol Red Notice. The suspect stands accused of facilitating the laundering of approximately 130 million Chinese Yuan ($17.8 million) derived from illicit gambling activities in China’s Inner Mongolia region.
During the press conference, the suspect appeared before journalists clad in standard-issue orange detention attire and a face covering, though no statements were made.
The case has been transferred to Indonesia’s National Central Bureau of Interpol in Jakarta, with authorities now weighing options between deportation and formal extradition to China.
This latest arrest forms part of a broader crackdown on international fugitives seeking haven in Indonesia. Just two months prior, Bali immigration officials detained another Chinese national allegedly involved in a massive $14 billion investment fraud targeting mainland Chinese victims.
“Our commitment remains steadfast in safeguarding Indonesian territory from the presence of foreign nationals who pose potential threats to national stability,” Director Yusman emphasised.
Indonesia’s unique archipelagic geography, strategically positioned between Asia and the South Pacific, has historically made it an attractive transit point for transnational criminal activities.
Recent months have seen several high-profile arrests, including Filipino fugitive Hector Aldwin Pantollana, wanted for a $67 million fraud scheme, and former Filipino mayor Alice Guo, allegedly connected to Chinese criminal organisations. In a separate case, Thai fugitive Chaowalit Thongduang, sought for multiple homicides and drug trafficking charges, was apprehended in Bali and subsequently repatriated to Thailand.
