The fraudulent investment cases in Indonesia are increasingly rampant, with women who do not have adequate educational backgrounds (uneducated) dominating the number of victims of this kind of crime.

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – The fraudulent investment cases in Indonesia are increasingly rampant, with women who do not have adequate educational backgrounds (uneducated) dominating the number of victims of this kind of crime.

A criminal law expert, senior advocate, lecturer and law observer, Prof. Dr. Suhandi Cahaya, made the remark at a national seminar under the theme 'Beware of Fraudulent Investment Crimes', as one of a series of events celebrating the 9th anniversary of Sudut Pandang mass media, held here on Saturday.

"With lures of profits of up to 12 percent every month, (mostly) mothers can immediately be lulled and get caught up in the promises of fraudulent investments that are as ‘sweet as honey’," he noted.

According to Prof. Suhandi, women are more likely to be victims of fake investments because they use their feelings (sense of feeling) more than their sense of rational, unlike men who prioritize reason.

He gave an example of the case of PT Indosurya Inti Finance, whose president director has been tried in the West Jakarta High Court in a criminal case that has been decided by the Panel of Judges of the West Jakarta District Court on the grounds of a bank letter from the defendant, and began to develop his fraudulent investment. This case has harmed people as investors to the value of 16 trillion rupiahs.

Finally, the Supreme Court sentenced Indosurya's boss, Henry Surya, to 18 years in prison with a fine of 15 billion rupiahs for the case of embezzlement of customer funds.

Prof. Suhandi emphasized that fraudulent investment is against the Banking Law contained in Article 46 of Law No. 7 of 1992, and Article 59 of Law No. 21 of 2008 concerning Sharia Banking.

Investment requires legal certainty. The national seminar agreed on the view that investors must receive protection and legal certainty. If there is legal certainty in investment, it would have a positive impact on national economic growth.

The national seminar by Sudut Pandang also featured law practitioner specializing in fake investment cases Oktavianus Setiawan, SH, CMED, CMLC, CRIP and senior journalist Aat Surya Safaat.

Reporting by Indonesia Window