The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI.
Save Our Soccer coordinator Akmal Marhali after meeting with Bareskrim Polri officers on Wednesday (12/7/2023) in Jakarta.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Save Our Soccer’s report alleging a football club sponsored by gambling money has been rejected by the Criminal Investigation Agency of the Indonesian National Police. The reason is that the report has been handled by the Anti-Mafia Task Force of the Police. Not giving up, Save Our Soccer plans to send a letter to President Joko Widodo to report this matter.
That was revealed by the Save Our Soccer (SOS) Coordinator Akmal Marhali after meeting with officials at the Bareskrim Polri on Wednesday (12/7/2023) in Jakarta. Akmal came with a bundle of reports about alleged gambling which included several copies of photos or images showing the alleged gambling.
According to Akmal, his report is based on the existence of advertisements for an online soccer gambling house during three separate matches of Liga 1 with different teams. Not only that, Akmal said that there is a soccer team suspected to be the name of an online gambling house.
“This concerns the community because until now gambling houses and all of its derivatives are prohibited in Indonesia,” said Akmal.
The gambling perpetrator was arrested by the South Sumatra Regional Police in Palembang, South Sumatra on Tuesday (July 4th).
According to Akmal, he has reported this matter to the instant messaging number of the Indonesian National Police Chief. With this rejection, Akmal plans to write a letter to President Joko Widodo.
“If necessary, I will write a letter to the President after this. As a citizen, I want to report to Bareskrim. That’s all,” said Akmal.
Previously, during a meeting with the Chairman of the All-Indonesia Soccer Association (PSSI), Erick Thohir, at the Indonesian National Police Headquarters (Mabes Polri), the Chief of Police General (Pol) Listyo Sigit Prabowo revealed the findings of the Anti-Mafia Ball Task Force regarding indicators of match-fixing committed by match officials. The task force is still investigating these indicators.
Meanwhile, Erick hopes that the legal process carried out by the Anti-Mafia Football Task Force is conducted transparently based on data and facts. Erick also assesses that the police are serious about eradicating football mafia.
Also read: Polri Finds Indication of Score Fixing
President Joko Widodo, accompanied by the Chairman of PSSI Erick Thohir and the Chief of Police General (Pol) Listyo Sigit Prabowo, was present at the Main Stadium of Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta, on Saturday (1/4/2023).
Separately, the Coordinator of Indonesia Police Watch (IPW) Sugeng Teguh Santoso regretted the rejection of reports of alleged online gambling in football. According to Sugeng, gambling as a social disease is still prohibited by Article 303 of the Criminal Code (KUHP), Law Number 7 of 1974 concerning Controlling Gambling, and Government Regulation Number 9 of 1981 concerning Implementation of Law Number 7 of 1974 concerning Gambling Control.
“The Indonesian Police Watch (IPW) urges the police to consistently implement the Presisi program and not be allergic to reporting on houses of gambling becoming sponsors in Indonesian football,” said Sugeng.”
Meanwhile, when confirmed, the Head of Public Information Division of the Public Relations Division of the Indonesian National Police, Commissioner Nurul Azizah, stated that they have not yet received information regarding the rejection of the report filed by the Coordinator of Save Our Soccer. She ensured that she will provide information if there are any further developments.