Agriculture Minister Dismisses 13 Officials for Online Gambling Violations

Minister Amran dismisses 13 officials involved in online gambling

Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman on Monday announced the permanent dismissal of 13 echelon officials discovered to be involved in online gambling, describing their conduct as a serious breach of civil service discipline and public trust.

The decision followed an early morning leadership meeting and internal investigation that verified reports of officials participating in illegal gambling activities. Some of the dismissed officials had made deposits totaling nearly Rp200 million (US$11,000) on online gambling platforms, according to the minister's findings.

"After the meeting, we took action against some echelon officials. There is no need to mention their names, just that they are officials. We dismissed 13 people for indiscipline and involvement in online gambling," Amran stated during a press conference in Jakarta.

Part of Broader National Enforcement

The dismissals represent a fraction of Indonesia's intensifying campaign against online gambling. Since 2024, the Financial Services Authority has blocked 33,252 bank accounts linked to gambling operations, while the Ministry of Communications and Digital has shut down 3.7 million gambling-related websites since October 2024. Law enforcement agencies arrested 1,164 individuals in 2026 alone, confiscating assets valued at approximately $105 million.

The problem extends throughout Indonesia's civil service. In West Java's Bandung Regency, authorities identified 1,066 civil servants who placed illegal wagers in 2025, spending over $373,000—a 74 percent increase from the 613 officials found gambling in 2024.

Legal and Cultural Context

All forms of gambling remain strictly prohibited in Indonesia under Article 303 of the Criminal Code and Law No. 7 of 1974 on Gambling Control, which declares gambling "contrary to religion, decency and the morals of Pancasila." Operators and facilitators face penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment. As the world's largest Muslim-majority nation, Indonesia enforces these prohibitions based on both Islamic principles and national ideology.

Indonesian lawmakers have called for even tougher penalties specifically targeting government officials and community leaders involved in gambling. Member of Parliament Rieke Diah Pitaloka emphasized that public figures should face higher standards due to their social influence, providing political backing for strict enforcement measures like those taken by Minister Amran.

Minister Defends Decisive Action

Amran, who has served as Agriculture Minister under both former President Joko Widodo and current President Prabowo Subianto and also heads the National Food Agency, stressed that civil servants involved in illegal gambling cannot be tolerated. He rejected lighter penalties despite officials having received previous warnings.

"As a leader, I must guide them on the right path. Guide them to become good people, good servants, exemplary employees, exemplary civil servants. So, I am obligated to guide them," he explained, adding that the measure was intended to protect employees and their families from further legal consequences.

The minister clarified that the dismissals were unrelated to any corruption investigation and based solely on gambling violations. He assured that ministry operations would continue unaffected, as the Agriculture Ministry employs approximately 52,000 people and all vacant positions had been immediately filled.

Indonesia's crackdown has included major enforcement operations, such as the May 2026 arrest of 321 foreigners, mainly from Vietnam, in one of the country's largest raids on an alleged online gambling hub in Jakarta that operated more than 70 gambling websites.

The Inspectorate General and Secretariat General have been instructed to prepare permanent replacements for all dismissed officials as the ministry reinforces its stance against violations of public service ethics.