In a significant development, Indonesian police successfully apprehend Putra Wibowo, the elusive founder of the controversial ‘Viral Blast’ trading robot, in Bangkok, Thailand.
The Indonesian National Police’s Directorate of Special Economic Crimes apprehends Putra Wibowo, the founder of the ‘Viral Blast’ trading robot, following a year-long manhunt, marking a significant advance in the fight against financial fraud.
Putra Wibowo, who fled in 2022 during criminal proceedings, was arrested in Bangkok for immigration violations, with coordination between Thai Immigration and the Indonesian Police Attaché in Bangkok.
The arrest was facilitated by the Indonesian Police’s International Relations Division, culminating in Wibowo’s extradition to Jakarta for legal proceedings.
Viral Blast’s trading operations have been previously scrutinized, implicating three convicted individuals and causing financial losses exceeding IDR 1.8 trillion to over 11,930 victims.
Investigations reveal the involvement of three football clubs and PT Trust Global Karya, under whose guise Viral Blast operated, offering fraudulent investment opportunities in an e-Book product.
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Authorities are conducting asset tracing and further investigations, including examining the legality of the company’s operations and its compliance with financial regulations.
The arrest of Putra Wibowo, the founder of the fraudulent ‘Viral Blast’ trading robot, signifies a major victory for Indonesian law enforcement in tackling complex financial crimes with international implications. This development underscores the importance of cross-border collaboration in combating financial fraud, offering reassurance to victims and serving as a deterrent to similar schemes in the future, both for Singaporeans and international communities.
The Indonesian National Police, in collaboration with Thai Immigration, apprehended Putra Wibowo, the founder of the ‘Viral Blast’ trading robot, in Bangkok. This marks a significant step in addressing the large-scale financial scam that defrauded thousands and highlights the importance of international cooperation in tackling complex economic crimes.
Source: Metro Batam, Detik News (2024)
