"I appreciate the Crime Investigation Unit (Bareskrim) team that exposed the online prostitution ring in which children were exploited by gay customers," General Tito Karnavian stated.
Surabaya, E Java (ANTARA News) - National police chief General Tito Karnavian has called for further investigation of the case regarding online child prostitution for gays to see possible involvement of other groups.

"I appreciate the Crime Investigation Unit (Bareskrim) team that exposed the online prostitution ring in which children were exploited by gay customers," he stated after meeting police chiefs from across East Java here on Friday.

Saying he was very concerned about the case, he informed that he has asked investigators to further investigate the case because other people could be involved in it.

"What is clear is that the racket came to light due to our fellows in Bareskrim, especially those in the cyber-team which tracked the case and probed it, arrested the suspects and investigated them," he added.

He argued that further investigation was important to know if other people were involved or if similar activities were also happening in other regions.

There are possibilities that more people could be involved here or in other regions. "In short, we must investigate the case thoroughly and arrest anyone involved," he stressed.

Ninety-nine under-aged children fell victim to an online prostitution ring for gays in Bogor, West Java, run by AR (41).

AR offered the victims through Facebook Rp1.2 million per service.

As for the case of 177 Indonesian haj pilgrims who were found using fake Philippine passports, General Tito Karnavian assured that criminal aspects in the case were still under study.

"Arrangements for their return were still being made by the foreign minister and the ambassador. We are optimistic they will be able to bring them home," he underlined.

To help investigate the case, he informed, the Indonesian police have sent a team to the Philippines.

"A team will also be sent to the regions. If any criminal elements are found, judicial process will follow," he emphasized.

The Philippines has named five suspects in connection with the case of 177 Indonesian citizens now detained.

"All five suspects are Filipinos," head of Public Information Bureau Brigadier General Agus Rianto disclosed.

The five Filipinos are believed to have forged the passports.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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