North Sulawesi – The government through the Prosecutor’s Office continues to strengthen preventive measures to prevent the spread of online gambling which is increasingly targeting students.
Through the national program “Prosecutors Enter School” (JMS), the High Prosecutor’s Office and District Prosecutor’s Office in various regions actively visit schools to provide legal education, while also warning about the dangers of online gambling for the future of the younger generation.
As implemented by the North Sulawesi High Prosecutor’s Office at SMK Negeri 6 Manado. This JMS program raised an important theme about preventing bullying and online gambling in the school environment. The educational activity was attended by dozens of students and teachers with high enthusiasm.
Coordinator of the North Sulawesi High Prosecutor’s Office, Edmond Purba, in his presentation revealed that online gambling has become a serious threat to students. He said, behind the seemingly entertaining appearance, there is a great danger in the form of addiction, financial loss, and potential involvement in criminal acts.
“Many students who initially just played for fun, then got into debt, even involved in crime to fulfill their gambling addiction. This must be stopped early,” said Edmond.
In line with that, the Head of the Legal Information Section of the North Sulawesi High Prosecutor’s Office, Januarius L. Bolitobi emphasized the importance of understanding the law at school age. According to him, legal education is the first step in creating a safe learning environment, free from violence, and aware of the legal consequences of every action.
“This activity is an important momentum for students to better understand the legal consequences of bullying and online gambling, and encourage them to dare to report if they experience or witness such incidents,” said Januarius.
Meanwhile, similar steps were also taken by the Batam District Attorney’s Office which implemented JMS at SMP Negeri 50 Batam.
In the counseling, Head of Sub Section 2 Intelligence of the Batam District Attorney’s Office, Arfian, said that online gambling practices are serious violations of the law as regulated in Article 303 of the Criminal Code and the ITE Law, with a criminal penalty of up to six years in prison.
“Gambling is not just entertainment. It is a violation of the law that can affect the future of our children,” Arfian said.
Head of the Intelligence Section of the Batam District Attorney’s Office, Priandi Firdaus, added that the JMS program is part of the prosecutor’s office’s commitment to protecting the younger generation from the threat of digital crime.
“We want students to recognize the law from an early age to avoid criminal entanglements,” said Priandi.
Through continuous education, the Prosecutor’s Office hopes that legal awareness can be firmly embedded among students. The government also continues to be present in the world of education as a form of real protection for future generations from the negative influence of digital technology developments, including online gambling. ()