Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – Indonesia's Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) has unblocked 122 million dormant bank accounts that were previously frozen over suspected links to online gambling syndicates and other criminal activities.
The accounts, spread across 105 banks, were reactivated following a review by the agency, according to PPATK Chief Ivan Yustiavandana on Wednesday. He assured the public that all customer funds remain intact and secure.
"We've already requested that banks lift the freeze immediately, as we no longer see any issues on our end," Ivan told reporters at PPATK headquarters in Jakarta.
He explained that the original decision to freeze these inactive accounts was a preventive measure to protect customers, particularly to prevent misuse by third parties for online gambling, corruption-related fund concealment, financial fraud, or narcotics transactions.
"The fact is, we found a large number of dormant accounts being used for criminal purposes. We're now processing those findings and referring them to law enforcement," Ivan added.
Escalating criminal fund flows
Ivan revealed alarming growth in illicit financial flows involving corruption, fraud, gambling, and drug trafficking. According to PPATK data, criminal fund movements totaled Rp 1,602 trillion ($98 billion) in 2023, jumping to Rp 2,658 trillion ($163 billion) in 2024.
Online gambling transactions, in particular, have surged. From 2017 through June 2025, total funds circulated through online gambling platforms reached Rp 976.8 trillion ($60 billion) across 709 million transactions. In just the first half of 2025, online gambling activity accounted for Rp 99.68 trillion ($6.1 billion).
Between 2020 and 2024, PPATK identified around 1.5 million bank accounts suspected of being linked to criminal activities.