REGIONAL CHIEF DETECTIVES ASKED TO REPORT ATM SCAM CASES

Jakarta, Jan 22 (ANTARA) - The Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) of the National Police has sent telegrams to all regional police chief detectives throughout Indonesia to report ATM break-in cases, Bareskrim Head Commissioner General Ito Sumardi said.

Sumardi said that the telegrams contained calls on all directors of Regional Police's Criminal Investigation Department to file reports on any ATM hacking case in their respective region.

He said that he had appointed Bareskrim's Director for Special Economic Affairs Brig. Genl Radja Erizman as chairman of a police team in charge of investigating cases of ATM hacking in a number of regions in the country.

Sumardi said that police were still gathering as evidence all initial indications of their modus operandi for further investigation, including studying reports from all regional Bareskrim chiefs.

"We will collect all information for further investigation," Sumardi said.

Police will detect the syndication of the ATM hackers in a number of national banks in the country, he said.

So far, police have named a man named 'F' a suspect in the theft of bank customers' money through forged ATM cards and PINs, a spokesman said.

The National Police's chief detective, Commissioner General Ito Sumardi, said here Friday F was suspected of having stolen the money kept at a number of banks in Bali.

Police had also confiscated Rp23 million in cash, computers, several ATM cards and skimmers.