Fugitive Ex-Mayor Arrested in Indonesia Over Illegal Gambling Operations

Alice Guo, a former town mayor from the Philippines, was arrested in Jakarta for allegedly facilitating an illegal online gambling and scam center targeting Chinese clients. Her arrest follows a collaborative effort between Indonesian and Filipino authorities, and she faces multiple criminal charges in the Philippines.

A former town mayor of the Philippines, Alice Guo, has been apprehended near Indonesia's capital for her alleged involvement in setting up an illegal online gaming and scam hub catering to Chinese clients. Guo was captured in a house in Tangerang by Indonesian authorities just before midnight on Tuesday.

The arrest resulted from coordinated efforts between Indonesian and Filipino police forces, according to Khrisna Murti, head of the international division of the National Police. Guo is currently in custody, awaiting deportation to the Philippines. Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed gratitude towards Indonesian officials and emphasized the arrest as a deterrent to those seeking to evade justice.

Guo, elected as mayor of Bamban in Tarlac province last year, is accused of heading a large complex for illegal online gambling aimed at Chinese clientele. After evading Philippines law enforcement, she was tracked through Malaysia and Singapore before being detained in Indonesia. The crackdown on Chinese-run gambling operations, initiated by President Marcos, has closed down numerous such establishments in the Philippines.

(With inputs from agencies.)