Indonesia Arrest Chinese Suspect in Purported $14 Billion Investment Scam

Indonesian Authorities Arrest Chinese Suspect in $14 Billion Investment Scam

Indonesian immigration officers have apprehended a Chinese suspect wanted by Beijing for orchestrating a massive investment scam that defrauded clients in China of over $14 billion. The 39-year-old man, identified only as LQ, was arrested on October 1st at Bali’s Ngurah Rai international airport when an immigration auto-gate denied him departure for Singapore. The computer registry’s biometric data flagged him as a suspect sought by Chinese authorities.

Arrest Stems from Interpol Red Notice

LQ was listed on an Interpol warrant issued in late September. He had previously arrived in Bali from Singapore with a Turkish passport under the alias Joe Lin just a day before the Red Notice was released. The Red Notice is a request to law enforcement agencies worldwide to detain or arrest wanted individuals.

Suspect Presented to Reporters

Indonesian authorities presented the suspect, wearing an orange detainee’s shirt and a facemask, to reporters at a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday. The suspect remained silent and was not questioned. Immigration Chief Silmy Karim condemned his actions, stating, “He was wrong to use Indonesia as a transit country, let alone as a destination country to hide.”

Decision on Deportation or Extradition Pending

The National Police’s international division chief, Krishna Murti, indicated that the decision to deport or extradite LQ to China will take time. Indonesia must verify his Turkish citizenship or the authenticity of the passport he used to enter the country. “We have to respect the suspect’s rights,” Murti said, noting that he has not committed any violations in Indonesia.

Suspect Allegedly Masterminded Ponzi Scheme

Beijing identified the suspect as the mastermind behind a Ponzi scheme that allegedly swindled over 50,000 people in China of 100 billion Chinese Yuan (approximately $14 billion).

Indonesia’s Role in Combating Organized Crime

Indonesia’s geographic location and cultural diversity make it an attractive haven for organized crime. In recent months, the country has arrested and deported several high-profile fugitives with alleged ties to criminal syndicates. Alice Guo, a former Philippine mayor, and Chaowalit Thongduang, a Thai fugitive wanted for killings and drug trafficking, were among those apprehended in Bali and returned to their respective homelands.