In a groundbreaking move, Indonesian authorities have successfully apprehended a fugitive former Filipino town mayor who is wanted for his involvement in illegal online gaming scams. The suspect, identified as Benito Ang, was arrested following a joint operation between Indonesian law enforcement agencies and Interpol.
Ang, who had been on the run for several months, was believed to have fled to Indonesia to evade capture in his home country. The former mayor of Santa Cruz, a town in the Philippines, is accused of orchestrating a sophisticated online gaming scheme that defrauded thousands of individuals of millions of dollars.
The operation to track down Ang was a result of extensive cooperation between the Indonesian and Filipino authorities. “This arrest is a significant milestone in our efforts to combat transnational cybercrimes,” said Indonesian Police Chief Didi Hadiyanto. “We will continue to work closely with our international partners to bring fugitives like Ang to justice.”
According to authorities, Ang’s illegal online gambling operation was run under the guise of a legitimate gaming website, but in reality, it was a front for a fraudulent scheme that stole the personal and financial information of its users. Victims were lured in with promises of huge winnings, only to have their accounts drained and their identities compromised.
The arrest of Ang sends a strong message to other criminals operating in the cyber world that they will not be able to evade justice. “We are committed to using all available resources to track down those who seek to exploit the online space for criminal activities,” said a spokesperson for Interpol.
Ang is currently in custody in Indonesia and is expected to be extradited to the Philippines to face charges related to his involvement in the illegal online gaming scams. The successful apprehension of Ang is a testament to the effectiveness of international cooperation in combatting cybercrime and bringing perpetrators to justice.
