LOGIC.co.id – The official website of NTMC, a key traffic information division within the Indonesian National Police (Polri), has reportedly been hacked, transforming into an online gambling site. This incident has raised public concern, as the NTMC website is typically a trusted source for real-time traffic updates across Indonesia.
1. NTMC Polri Website Turns into a Gambling Site
On Wednesday (13/11) at around 9:52 AM (WIB), users noticed that the NTMC Polri website’s homepage no longer displayed traffic information. Instead, it showed advertisements and links related to sports betting, with claims of being the ‘Best Gambling Site in Asia.’ The NTMC (National Traffic Management Center) of Polri is generally relied upon by the public for traffic updates and safety information.
This sudden change has raised questions about the cybersecurity of government websites, especially those managed by essential public institutions like the Indonesian National Police (Polri).
2. No Official Statement from Police Yet
As of now, Polri has not issued an official response regarding this suspected hack. CNNIndonesia.com attempted to reach Indonesian Traffic Police Chief Inspector General Aan Suhanan for further confirmation, but no official comment has been received on this issue.
3. Indonesian Police Actively Combat Online Gambling
Ironically, this hacking incident comes amid Polri’s ongoing nationwide crackdown on online gambling. Indonesian National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo previously reported that from 2020 to 2024, the police had arrested 9,096 individuals involved in online gambling. In the same period, 5,991 related bank accounts were frozen, and 68,108 gambling sites were blocked.
“Since 2020, we have detained thousands of suspects and blocked thousands of gambling-related accounts and websites,” stated General Listyo during a meeting with the Indonesian House of Representatives Commission III on Monday (11/11).
4. Trillions in Illegal Online Gambling Circulation
Listyo also revealed that in the first three quarters of 2024, Polri detected approximately IDR 283 trillion (around USD 18 billion) in transactions related to online gambling, indicating the enormous scale of this illegal industry in Indonesia.
5. PPATK Warns of Rising Online Gambling Among Children
In a separate session, Indonesia’s Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) raised further concerns, noting that online gambling is spreading to younger demographics, even among children under 10. PPATK head Ivan Yustiavandana highlighted the growing trend in the age range of online gamblers.
“The trend of online gambling is reaching younger populations, with users as young as under 10 years old. This is a serious concern for us,” he remarked during a session with the House of Representatives Commission III on Wednesday (6/11).
Conclusion:
The suspected hacking of NTMC’s website, turning it into a gambling site, highlights an urgent need for improved cybersecurity across Indonesian government platforms. As Polri intensifies efforts to tackle illegal online gambling, this incident underscores the necessity of swift action to maintain public trust.
