INDONESIA: Indonesian authorities have arrested Yan Zhenxing, a Chinese national sought by Beijing for allegedly laundering 130 million yuan (approximately US$18 million) from a criminal online gambling operation.
Yan’s arrest was confirmed by officials on 5 December 2024.
Yan was detained on 2 December by immigration officers at the Batam cross-border ferry terminal.
According to Yuldi Yusman, Director of Immigration Supervision and Enforcement, Yan attempted to board the Majestic Ship en route to Singapore when officers flagged him.
A check of the Border Control Management system revealed an Interpol red notice issued by the Beijing National Central Bureau (NCB).
Singapore permanent resident
Yusman explained that Yan, a Singapore permanent resident, had travelled to Batam with his family for a holiday.
Indonesian authorities promptly apprehended him and brought him to Jakarta.
TOC has reached out to the Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) to clarify Yan’s residency status in Singapore and the circumstances surrounding his arrest.
Specifically, TOC has inquired whether Yan had been residing in Singapore prior to his trip to Batam and, if so, why he was not apprehended in Singapore despite an Interpol red notice issued against him.
At a news conference, Yan appeared in an orange detainee’s uniform and face mask but made no statements.
Chinese authorities allege Yan’s involvement with a criminal gang operating an online gambling platform and engaging in large-scale money laundering.
The gang reportedly manipulated financial data to generate illicit profits totalling 130 million yuan (approximately Rp284 billion).
The process to transfer Yan to Chinese authorities is ongoing.
Yusman noted that Indonesia’s NCB Interpol is managing the handover, and a decision on deportation or extradition will take time.
“We are committed to protecting Indonesia’s territory from the arrival of foreign nationals who are not useful and threaten national stability,” said Yusman.
Yan’s arrest follows a series of similar operations targeting foreign nationals involved in crimes across the region.
In October, immigration officers in Bali arrested another Chinese suspect accused of running investment scams worth over US$14 billion.
In a separate case last month, Filipino fugitive Hector Aldwin Pantollana was apprehended in Bali over allegations of scamming US$67 million from clients in the Philippines.
Additionally, Alice Guo, a former mayor linked to Chinese criminal syndicates, was detained near Jakarta in September and subsequently deported to the Philippines.
Earlier in June, authorities in Bali arrested Chaowalit Thongduang, a fugitive from Thailand, for his involvement in multiple killings and drug trafficking.
He was extradited to Thailand aboard a Thai air force plane.