JAKARTA, Indonesia — Authorities in Bali, Indonesia, have arrested a Filipino fugitive accused of orchestrating a $67-million investment scam targeting clients in the Philippines, officials announced Tuesday.
Hector Aldwin Pantollana, 35, a casino junket operator well-known in the Philippines, was detained on November 9 at Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.
His capture was triggered by biometric data at an automatic immigration gate, according to Saffar M. Godam, Acting Director General of Immigration at Indonesia’s Ministry of Immigration and Correctional Affairs.
Pantollana first entered Bali on October 10, and by October 31, Interpol had issued a Red Notice for his arrest. This global alert requests law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and detain individuals wanted in specific countries.
Following his arrest, Pantollana was transferred to Jakarta for further investigation. Authorities confirmed he will be deported to the Philippines on Wednesday to face charges.
Untung Widyatmoko, chief of Indonesia’s National Central Bureau Interpol, stated that Pantollana is accused by the Philippine National Police of defrauding thousands of people in a fake investment scheme that raised more than 4 billion Philippine pesos ($67.7 million).
Widyatmoko praised the collaborative efforts between Indonesian immigration and police in capturing international fugitives attempting to evade justice.
“This partnership demonstrates our commitment to making the ASEAN region free from transnational crimes and criminal hideouts,” Widyatmoko said.
Indonesia, strategically located at the crossroads of Asia and the South Pacific, has become a hub for organized crime due to its geographical position and multicultural society.
In a related case, Indonesian immigration officers in Bali arrested a Chinese suspect last month accused of operating a $14-billion investment scam targeting clients in China.
Similarly, in September, Indonesian authorities apprehended Alice Guo, a former mayor from the Philippines accused of links to Chinese criminal syndicates. She was subsequently deported to the Philippines.
These arrests underscore Indonesia’s heightened vigilance in combating transnational crime and its role in regional security. (Associated Press)