Inp.polri.go.id - Palembang. The South Sumatra Regional Police have addressed a case involving a syndicate selling population registration number (NIK) data through WhatsApp.

South Sumatra Police Head of Public Relations Senior Superintendent Sunarto said on Tuesday (30/4/2024) that the syndicate, composed of seven individuals, was involved in selling NIK data registered on WhatsApp accounts, which was then distributed abroad, notably to China.

The syndicate's operations were spearheaded by one of the suspects, identified  as NOV, who admitted to learning the transaction system from online platforms like YouTube.

NOV and his associates were arrested by the police in the Borang area of Palembang, along with a trove of evidence.

Reports indicate that the syndicate managed to sell up to 50,000 WhatsApp accounts daily, generating an estimated income of Rp. 5,000,000.

The suspects face charges under the ITE Law, with a maximum penalty of 12 years in prison and a fine of Rp12 billion.

(mg/ek/pr/nm)