Prosecutors are seeking a two-year prison sentence for Indonesian Instagram influencer Rahmawati Puspita Ningrum for allegedly promoting an online casino, an act strictly prohibited in Indonesia. The court has been informed that Rahmawati earned IDR 2 million (approximately $112) from endorsing the gambling site.
The crackdown on online casinos in Indonesia has intensified, with several young women previously jailed for similar offenses. Many of these individuals are as young as 19.
During a pre-sentencing appearance at the Surabaya District Court on July 21, Rahmawati appealed for leniency. She faces charges of “offering or giving the public the opportunity to gamble without a permit,” according to Indonesian media reports.
Prosecutors assert that Rahmawati did more than just post simple endorsements on Instagram. They claim she facilitated access to online gambling for her followers for personal gain.
Evidence presented to the court includes a WhatsApp conversation from October 2025, in which a man identified as Justin allegedly offered to pay her to promote a gambling site named martabak188 through a mirroring link. Rahmawati purportedly accepted the offer and subsequently published several posts on her Instagram account.
According to prosecutors, Justin transferred money to Rahmawati's DANA digital wallet in three payments. Law enforcement tracked these transactions, leading to Rahmawati's arrest on December 4, 2025, just one day after she received her final payment from Justin at a boarding house popular among students and young professionals.
While the court did not reveal Rahmawati’s age, her past Instagram photos show her in a school uniform with classmates, suggesting she may still be quite young. Her Instagram account presently boasts nearly 15,000 followers, yet her TikTok page has been deactivated.
Authorities are actively searching for Justin, who remains at large. In addition to the prison sentence, prosecutors are requesting a fine of IDR 100,000 ($6), with the stipulation that an inability to pay would result in an additional month in prison. Earlier this month, the Indonesian government announced the removal of 3.1 million gambling-related websites and social media posts to combat illegal online gambling activities.
