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Questions surround mystery death of North Kalimantan police officer as Indonesia Police Watch demands thorough investigation

Brigadier Setyo Herlambang’s mysterious death in North Kalimantan prompts calls for a thorough investigation amid doubts of accidental firearm mishandling.

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12 months ago

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INDONESIA – The death of Brigadier Setyo Herlambang, an officer serving as an aide to the Chief of Police in the North Kalimantan Region (Kapolda Kaltara), Inspector General Daniel Adityajaya, has left Indonesia Police Watch (IPW) questioning the official explanation.

Authorities initially suggested that Brigadier Setyo died due to mishandling his own firearm, but IPW and other officials are calling for a more thorough and transparent investigation.

IPW Chairman, Sugeng Teguh Santoso, expressed doubts about the claim that Brigadier Setyo accidentally shot himself while cleaning his weapon.

Sugeng Teguh Santoso, the Chairman of Indonesia Police Watch (IPW). (Photo: KOMPAS.com)

“As a member of the Mobile Brigade Corps (Brimob), Setyo was undoubtedly trained in the use and maintenance of firearms. Moreover, they are equipped with the knowledge of inspecting and caring for weapons,” Sugeng stated on Monday (25 Sep).

In discussing the standard procedures for firearm maintenance, Sugeng pointed out that magazines and bullets must be removed, the firing chamber should be checked to ensure it is empty, and the weapon’s barrel must be directed in a safe position.

Sugeng believes that the North Kalimantan Regional Police rushed to conclude negligence as the cause of Setyo’s death, especially after finding his HS-9 firearm beside him.

IPW is urging the case to be taken over by the Professional and Security Division (Propam) and the General Crimes Directorate (Ditipidum) of the National Criminal Investigation Agency (Badan Reserse Kriminal Polri).

This move is aimed at ensuring a more professional and accountable investigation while avoiding conflicts of interest, given Setyo’s role as an aide to Kapolda Kaltara.

Sugeng also emphasized the need for a comprehensive examination of the crime scene, including checking for any bullet-pierced fabric or injuries in areas other than Brigadier Setyo’s body.

“The crime scene must be examined, and the items inside it must be thoroughly investigated,” Sugeng added.

Sugeng raised suspicions that Setyo may have taken his own life, saying, “There is a strong suspicion that he became a victim of suicide.

IPW received information that the shot was directed directly at his left chest using the same firearm.”

Furthermore, IPW disagrees with the notion of negligence in Setyo’s case and calls for a thorough investigation into the reasons behind his alleged suicide.

“That’s why the investigation into why Brigadier Setyo took his own life needs to be examined. The background of this suicide must be studied. Why did he commit suicide?” Sugeng questioned.

Sugeng urged the Indonesian National Police (Polri) to learn from this case and pay attention to the stress levels and issues faced by police officers, with the aim of preventing future suicides.

He concluded, “This incident is a blow to the Bhayangkara Corps to take their reforms more seriously, as it is a loss for the Polri institution.”

Sugeng also proposed that Polri promptly establish a special team to investigate the reasons behind police officers taking their own lives, to prevent such incidents in the future.

Police officer’s mysterious death

Brigadier Setyo Herlambang was found dead in his official residence at Kapolda Kaltara’s house last Friday (22 Sep), with his firearm by his side.

Police initially cited negligence as the likely cause of his death.

“The preliminary suspicion is that the victim was cleaning his firearm, resulting in an accidental discharge,” said Police Commissioner (Kombes) Budi Rachmat, Head of Public Relations for North Kalimantan Regional Police, on Saturday (23 Sep).

Separately, Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo has instructed his subordinates to investigate Brigadir Setyo Herlambang’s death using scientific crime investigation (SCI) techniques, which involve multidisciplinary approaches to criminal investigations.

National Police Commission urges thorough, transparent probe into Setyo’s death

Similar sentiments were echoed by Poengky Indarti, Commissioner of the National Police Commission (Kompolnas), who called for a swift, professional, and transparent investigation.

Kompolnas also advocated for an evidence-based investigation to determine whether Setyo’s death was a result of self-inflicted harm or if there were other factors involved.

Poengky Indarti, the Commissioner of the National Police Commission (Kompolnas). (Photo: KOMPAS.com)

Furthermore, Kompolnas is waiting for the results of the internal investigation conducted by Polda Kaltara, which includes various departments such as Inspectorate, Professional and Security, Criminal Investigation, and Police Medicine.

Poengky emphasized the need for external oversight of the case, inviting the public and media to monitor the process closely to ensure transparency.

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Crime

S$3b money laundering convicts and Alice Guo charged with human trafficking in Philippines

Zhang Ruijin and Lin Baoying, convicted in Singapore’s S$3 billion money laundering case, have been charged in the Philippines for human trafficking, along with former mayor Alice Guo. The group is accused of operating a scam centre involving hundreds of workers in Tarlac province.

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14 mins ago

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20 September 2024

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MANILA, PHILIPPINES: Two Fujian-born individuals previously convicted in Singapore’s S$3 billion money laundering case, Zhang Ruijin and Lin Baoying, have been named among 14 people charged with human trafficking in the Philippines.

The charges were filed by the Department of Justice on 17 September, involving a major scam operation in Tarlac province.

Zhang and Lin, along with former Bamban mayor Alice Guo, are accused of forcing hundreds of people from various nationalities into working for a scam centre located in Bamban, Tarlac.

The site was raided in March 2024, leading to the discovery of 432 Chinese nationals, 371 Filipinos, and other individuals from Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Rwanda.

Guo, who was stripped of her mayorship in August, was arrested in Indonesia in September following her escape from the Philippines in July during an investigation into her alleged involvement in Chinese criminal syndicates.

The scam operation was run on land owned by Baofu Land Development, a company founded in 2019 by Guo, Zhang, Lin, Cypriot national Huang Zhiyang, and Philippine national Rachel Joan Malonzo Carreon.

All five individuals are among those facing charges of “qualified human trafficking,” a non-bailable offence which typically carries a penalty of life imprisonment.

Qualified trafficking, as defined under Philippine law, involves cases where syndicates, slavery, or forced labour are present.

Zhang and Lin were sentenced to 15 months in prison in Singapore after pleading guilty to money laundering and forgery charges.

They were deported to Cambodia in June after completing their sentences.

Guo, who had evaded Philippine authorities by hiding in Singapore for a month, was extradited back to the Philippines on 9 September and is now facing additional charges, including graft-related offences, tax fraud, and laundering criminal proceeds amounting to 100 million pesos (S$2.3 million).

Guo, whose birth name is allegedly Guo Hua Ping, is also under investigation for fabricating her nationality to qualify for public office, a role restricted to Philippine citizens.

She is accused of falsifying her birth records to conceal her Chinese nationality.

The case has drawn further attention due to the involvement of Huang Zhiyang, reported to be the head of illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos), which have been linked to human trafficking and scam operations.

Pogos, while licensed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), have been criticized for exploiting workers and being a front for criminal activities.

In 2022, Pogos contributed 53.1 billion pesos (S$1.3 billion) to the Philippine economy, but lawmakers continue to express concerns about their operations.

Zhang and Lin’s current whereabouts remain unclear following their deportation.

Cambodian authorities reported Zhang was deported again on 16 July, but the destination country was not disclosed.

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Crime

Two arrested in US$230 million cryptocurrency theft and laundering scheme

Two men, including a Singaporean citizen, were arrested Wednesday night and charged in U.S. District Courts in Florida and California with stealing and laundering over US$230 million in cryptocurrency. The FBI raided a luxury Miami home linked to one suspect, who allegedly defrauded a Washington, D.C. victim.

Published

1 hour ago

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20 September 2024

By

Malone Lam (Broward Sheriff’s Office), Luxury home at 1201 NE 83rd St (Miami Herald)

UNITED STATES: On Thursday (19 Sept), Malone Lam, 20, of Miami, FL, and Jeandiel Serrano, 21, of Los Angeles, CA, were charged with conspiracy to steal and launder over US$230 million in cryptocurrency from a Washington, D.C. victim.

Both suspects were arrested on Wednesday night and charged in U.S. District Courts in Florida and California on Thursday.

Lam, a Singaporean citizen known online as “Anne Hathaway” and “$$$,” and Serrano, who uses the aliases “VersaceGod” and “@SkidStar,” were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.

They are accused of using their online identities to fraudulently obtain over 4,100 Bitcoin, valued at more than US$230 million, from a Washington, D.C. victim, according to a press release by the U.S. Department of Justice.

According to the Miami Herald, the FBI raided a luxury waterfront home in Miami, FL, linked to Lam as part of the investigation.

The 10-bedroom, 10-bath home, listed on Zillow for US$11.5 million, was reportedly rented out to celebrities and musicians. Agents arrested Lam in Miami, while Serrano was simultaneously apprehended in Los Angeles. Neighbours described seeing Maseratis and Lamborghinis frequently parked at the Miami residence.

The indictment alleges that since at least August 2024, Lam and Serrano, along with unnamed accomplices, used sophisticated methods to gain access to victims’ cryptocurrency accounts.

The stolen funds were laundered through cryptocurrency exchanges, “peel chains,” pass-through wallets, and virtual private networks (VPNs) to obscure their origins.

The suspects allegedly spent the proceeds on luxury goods, including cars, jewellery, and rental properties in both Miami and Los Angeles.

The raid, which took place on Wednesday, was part of a grand jury indictment unsealed the next day. Agents were seen removing high-end vehicles from the property, and damage to the front gate was visible following the operation.

Local police provided support to the FBI during the raid.

The arrests were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge David Geist of the Washington Field Office, and Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter of the IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Washington, D.C. Field Office.

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