inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Indonesian National Police (INP) Criminal Investigation Agency arrested suspect Ronny Ika Setiawan for allegedly holding funds for the Aceh-based drug dealer network, Pak Cik Hendra. The suspect is a repeat offender in a 2017 drug case and has already served time in court.

The Director of Narcotics Criminal Investigation Directorate of INP, Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso, explained that upon his arrest, the suspect confessed to creating the account at the behest of an inmate at Tegal Prison, Central Java. Ronny admitted that he was initially introduced to an inmate named Fajar, also known as Pajero, while in detention.

When Ronny was released from prison, Eko stated that Pajero lent him money several times. Then, in January 2024, at around 9:00 a.m., the suspect was preparing to leave for work at the Tomang Seafood Distributor in West Jakarta.

"The suspect received a call from Mr. Fajar, also known as Pajero, to open a new account in his name," explained Eko.

According to Eko, Pajero then sent IDR 1,000,000 to Ronny to open an online banking account and purchase a mobile phone. The suspect was then asked to send both items, along with a savings book, to North Semarang.

"Based on an analysis of bank statements from December 2023 to March 2026, a recorded fund turnover of approximately IDR 10 billion was recorded, with total incoming and outgoing funds of approximately IDR 5 billion each," said Eko.

Eko added that repeated transactions with different amounts were found via mobile banking, indicating the practice of transaction smurfing. Furthermore, there was also a pattern of incoming and outgoing funds through the same party, indicating fund layering.

"The suspect (Ronny) deliberately created a new account for Fajar, alias Pajero, to use. This means he fulfilled the element of intent with awareness of the possibility. This means he took the risk that the account in his name might be used to store the proceeds of crime, and that happened," said Eko.

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