Former FTX CEO Bankman-Fried arrested in Bahamas after U.S. files charges

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried poses for a picture, in an unspecified location, in this undated handout picture, obtained by Reuters on July 5, 2022. FTX/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried was arrested in the Bahamas at the behest of U.S. prosecutors on Monday, the day before he was due to testify before Congress about the abrupt failure last month of one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges.

The arrest marks a stunning fall from grace for the 30-year-old entrepreneur widely known by his initials SBF, who rode a boom in bitcoin and other digital assets to become a billionaire many times over until FTX's rapid demise.

The exchange, launched in 2019 and based in the Bahamas, filed for bankruptcy Nov. 11 after it struggled to raise money to stave off collapse as traders rushed to withdraw $6 billion from the platform in just 72 hours.

The arrest came as Bankman-Fried prepared to lash out at his former lawyers at Sullivan and Cromwell, new FTX CEO John Ray and rival exchange operator Binance at a Congressional hearing.

In the testimony, a draft copy of which was seen by Reuters, Bankman-Fried planned to say he was pressured by Sullivan and Cromwell lawyers to nominate Ray as CEO following the sudden exodus of customer funds. And when within minutes he changed his mind, following an offer of billions of dollars of fresh funding, he was told it was too late.

Bankman-Fried will now be unable to testify, according to Congresswoman Maxine Waters, who said in a statement she was surprised to hear of his arrest.

Bankman-Fried was arrested shortly after 6:00 pm Monday (2300 GMT) at his apartment complex, a luxury gated community called the Albany, and will appear in a magistrate court on Tuesday, Bahamian police said. The Bahamas attorney general's office said it expects he will be extradited to the United States.

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan confirmed Bankman-Fried had been arrested in the Bahamas but declined to comment on the charges.

U.S. prosecutors said they had a sealed indictment against Bankman-Fried and charges would be revealed on Tuesday. The New York Times reported Bankman-Fried faces fraud and money laundering charges. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission separately authorized charges relating to Bankman-Fried's violations of securities laws, the regulator said on Monday.

Bankman-Fried and his lawyer Mark Cohen did not immediately respond to requests for comment, nor did Sullivan and Cromwell, FTX, Ray and Binance.

CRYPTO INDUSTRY REELING

FTX's demise sent shockwaves through an already-battered cryptocurrency industry, which has seen a string of meltdowns this year that have taken down other key players including Voyager Digital and Celsius Network.

More trouble might be on the horizon for the industry.

Reuters reported Monday that some Justice Department prosecutors believe they have gathered sufficient evidence in their long-running investigation of Binance to charge the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange and some top executives.

A Binance spokesperson told Reuters for the article: "We don't have any insight into the inner workings of the U.S. Justice Department, nor would it be appropriate for us to comment if we did."

Bitcoin was steady at $17,150. It is down more than 60% this year.

MEA CULPA

Since the collapse of FTX, Bankman-Fried has given numerous media interviews apologizing for his mistakes and explaining what happened at the company, something that legal experts said could allow prosecutors to point to inconsistencies to undermine his credibility with a jury.

"The defense is going to be completely boxed in by the prior statements SBF has made and the very incisive questions he has answered in the press and on social media,” said criminal defense attorney and former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti.

In his written testimony, Bankman-Fried repeated his mea culpa: "I would like to start by formally stating, under oath: I fucked up," he wrote.

Then, he launched into an explanation of how things went badly at FTX and his hedge fund Alameda Research, while criticizing Sullivan and Cromwell and Ray as well as arch rival Binance for their actions as his firm imploded.

UNDER PRESSURE

Describing his decision to give up his role as CEO of FTX and appoint Ray, Bankman-Fried said he was pressured to do so by Sullivan and Cromwell and the general counsel of FTX's U.S. unit, who he said was a former lawyer at the law firm.

Bankman-Fried said less than 10 minutes after he had signed a document at 4.30 am on Nov. 10 to make Ray the CEO of FTX, he received "a potential funding offer for billions of dollars." Bankman-Fried said he told his counsel to rescind the CEO appointment a few minutes later but was told it was already too late to do so.

Bankman-Fried said he had since been cut off from FTX's systems and Ray had not responded to his emails offering help or other information.

Bankman-Fried, who had become a prominent and unconventional figure known for his wild hair, t-shirts and shorts during crypto's boom, said the fortunes of FTX and his trading firm Alameda declined rapidly this year as crypto currencies crashed amid rising interest rates.

In late 2021, he said Alameda had net asset value of more than $50 billion and manageable levels of debt. That became unsustainable as digital assets declined.

"Last year, my net worth was valued at $20b,” Bankman-Fried wrote. “Last I saw, I believe my bank account had about $100k in it.”

Masalah DBH Bupati Meranti Marah Besar ke Anak Buah Sri Mulyani

Bupati Meranti, M Adil (Foto: Arjuna/Batamnews)

Bupati Kabupaten Kepulauan Meranti Muhammad Adil meluapkan kekesalannya ke Kementerian Keuangan (Kemenkeu), saat bertemu dengan Direktur Jenderal Perimbangan Keuangan Kemenkeu Lucky Alfirman.

Kekesalan itu ia curahkan dalam acara Rakornas Pengelolaan Pendapatan dan Belanja Daerah Se-Indonesia yang ditayangkan channel Diskominfotik Provinsi Riau akhir pekan lalu. Kalimat-kalimat bernada ancaman pun sempat dilontarkan Adil saat berbincang dengan Lucky.

Adil kesal bukan tanpa alasan, melainkan karena dana bagi hasil (DBH) produksi minyak dari Meranti yang semakin ke sini semakin minim besarannya diberikan Kemenkeu, padahal produksi minyak Meranti terus meninggi di tengah terkereknya harga minyak dunia dan naiknya nilai tukar dolar AS.

"Meranti itu daerah termiskin se-Indonesia, penghasil minyak, termiskin, ekstrem lagi, pertanyaan saya bagaimana kami tidak miskin, uang kami tidak dikasihkan," ujar Adil.

Menurut Adil, Meranti merupakan salah satu daerah produsen minyak terbesar di Indonesia. Daerah itu kata dia mampu memproduksi minyak mentah hingga 7.500 barel per hari saat ini, dari sebelumnya hanya di kisaran 3.000-4.000 barel per hari. Produksi itu pun telah membuat 103 sumur minyak kering.

"Minyak kami pak, 103 sumur kering, kalau 100 sumur lagi kering miskin total, kami tidak perlu bantuan dari provinsi, dari pempus, serahkan saja duit minyak kami, sudah selesai itu," ucap Adil.

Jumlah produksi itu pun menurutnya sudah hampir menyamai target yang diberikan SKK Migas, yaitu 9.000 barel per hari. Untuk mengejar target itu, Meranti menurutnya terus gencar melakukan penggalian sumur dari tahun ini 15 sumur, hingga 2023 sebanyak 19 sumur minyak mentah.

Tapi, dengan kinerja produksi itu, Adil mengungkapkan, uang dari hasil produksi yang telah diserahkan Meranti ke pemerintah pusat tidak diberikan secara benar. Bahkan dari yang tahun ini sebesar Rp 114 miliar, hanya naik sekitar Rp 700 juta untuk tahun depan.

Ia berpendapat, dana yang tidak terserahkan ini menjadi masalah karena Meranti merupakan daerah miskin esktrem dengan jumlah penduduk miskin mencapai 25,68%. Padahal, Presiden Joko Widodo ditegaskannya telah memeintahkan penuntasan kemiskinan ekstrem pada 2024.

"Ini karena kami daerah miskin kalau kami kaya kami biarkan saja mau diambil Rp10 triliun pun enggak apa. Kami daerah miskin, daerah ekstrem. Jadi kalau daerah miskin, bapak ibu ambil uangnya entah dibawa ke mana, pemerataan, pemerataan ke mana?" ujar Adil.

Karena permasalahan ini, Adil sempat mengungkapkan, sebaiknya pemerintah pusat menyerahkan daerah Meranti ke negara tetangga saja, terutama jika tak lagi mau mengurus daerah itu karena hanya mengambil dana dari hasil produksi minyaknya saja.

"Kasihkan kami ke negeri sebelah, kan saya ngomong. Atau bapak tak paham juga omongan saya. Apa perlu meranti mengangkat senjata? Kan tak mungkin kan, ini menyangkut masalah meranti yang miskin ekstrem," ujarnya.

Lucky pun sebetulnya sudah berulang kali menjelaskan kepada Adil saat itu formulasi pembagian DBH sudah ditentukan dalam undang-undang. Dalam Undang-Undang Hubungan Keuangan antara Pemerintah Pusat dan Pemerintahan Daerah (HKPD) pun juga pembagiannya sudah diperluas ke daerah lain, bukan hanya dikembalikan ke daerah penghasil saja.

"Itukan ada formulanya, saya sampaikan tadi, misalnya ditetapkan di UU, 85% itu diberikan kepada pusat, daerah sebesar 15%, kemudian bukan hanya daerah penghasil, tapi juga diberikan yang namanya daerah pemerataan," kata Lucky.

Kendati begitu, Adil tak kunjung puas dengan jawaban Lucky. Dia mengaku telah lama bersurat ke Menteri Keuangan sampai 3 kali untuk audiensi mengenai permasalahan ini, namun selalu ditanggapi dengan hanya pertemuan melalui layanan zoom.

"Terus terang pak, saya sudah lapor ke pembina saya Pak Tito (Mendagri), kalau tidak bisa juga nanti kita ketemu di mahkamah. Izin pak, saya enek mandang bapak di sini, aku tinggalkan lah ini ruangan," kata Adil.

Staf Khusus Menteri Keuangan Bidang Komunikasi Strategis Yustinus Prastowo pun telah turut memberikan penjelasan mengenai permasalahan DBH yang digaungkan Adil. Menurutnya, permasalahan ini seharusnya sudah selesai jika mengacu UU yang berlaku.

"Terkait pernyataan Sdr. Bupati Kep Meranti yang tidak puas dengan alokasi DBH Kep. Meranti, dapat kami sampaikan bahwa perhitungan TKD tahun 2023, khususnya DBH Migas untuk Kab. Kep. Meranti sudah dilaksanakan sesuai ketentuan UU 1/2022 tentang HKPD. Sangat clear dan legitim!" ujar Prastowo melalui akun twitter @prastow.

Prastowo menjelaskan, total alokasi DBH 2023 Meranti adalah Rp207,67 miliar, naik 4,84% dari 2022 dengan DBH SDA Migas Rp115,08 miliar atau turun 3,53% dari 2022. Ini karena data lifting minyak 2022 dari Kementerian ESDM menunjukkan penurunan dari 2.489,71 ribu menjadi 1.970,17 ribu barel setara minyak.

"Penurunan lifting ini berpengaruh terhadap alokasi DBH Migas untuk Kab. Kepulauan Meranti pada tahun 2023. Dengan adanya penurunan lifting ini, Pemerintah Kab. Kepulauan Meranti perlu memikirkan terobosan agar lifting di Kabupaten Kep. Meranti bisa ditingkatkan," tuturnya.

Menurut Prastowo, meskipun alokasi DBH Migas turun, alokasi DAU Kab. Kep. Meranti justru naik 3,67% menjadi Rp422,56 miliar. Sayangnya, indikator kinerja pengelolaan anggaran DTU (DAU dan DBH) di Kabupaten Kepulauan Meranti masih lebih rendah dibandingkan daerah lain di Indonesia.

"Dalam rangka membantu masyarakat miskin dari dampak inflasi, Pemda wajib mengalokasikan 2% dari DTU (DBH dan DAU) untuk perlindungan sosial. Akan tetapi, per 9 Desember 2022, Meranti baru merealisasikan belanja wajib 9,76%, jauh dari rata-rata secara nasional yang mencapai 33,73%. Prihatin!" ucap Prastowo.

Pernyataan Keras Bupati Meranti

Bupati Meranti Muhammad Adil melontarkan sejumlah pernyataan pedas dalam rapat koordinasi dengan Kementerian Keuangan RI.

Bupati Meranti Muhammad Adil bikin heboh media sosial. Karena lembaga negara isinya setan dan iblis.

Adil menyebut hal itu lantaran merasa daerah yang dipimpinnya diperlakukan tidak adil oleh Kementerian Keuangan yang dipimpin oleh Sri Mulyani.

Berikut pernyataan Bupati Adil yang bikin heboh:

1. Jangan Hisap Uang Kami Bupati Meranti ini lebih memilih hidup dari usaha sendiri daripada mengandalkan pemerintah pusat yang menurutnya sudah mengeksploitasi Meranti.
   
   “Gapapa, kami juga masih bisa makan, daripada uang kami dihisap oleh pusat,” tegas Adil.



2. Serahkan Meranti ke Negara Tetangga
   
   Saking ‘hopeless-nya’, Muhammad Adil meminta pemerintah pusat untuk menyerahkan Meranti ke negara tetangga.
   
   “Bapak mau tahu, akibat pandemi covid, warga Meranti nggak bisa pergi ke Malaysia, 41 ribu penganggurannya, kalau bapak nggak mau mengurus kami, pusat tidak mau mengurus Meranti, kasihkan kami ke negeri sebelah,” katanya.



3. Apa Perlu Meranti Angkat Senjata?
   
   Ancaman yang tak kalah serius, adalah saat Muhammad Adil mencetuskan ide angkat senjata.
   
   “Kan saya ngomong, apa bapak tidak paham omongan saya? Apa perlu Meranti angkat senjata?” ujar Muhammad Adil.



4. Sudah Muak dengan Kemenkeu
   
   Bupati Meranti Muhammad Adil mengaku muak melihat perwakilan Kementerian Keuangan yang hadir di rapat Koordinasi Pengelolaan Pendapatan Belanja Daerah se-Indonesia. Pengakuannya itu terekam dalam video yang sudah beredar luas di media sosial.
   
   “Izin pak, saya eneg lihat bapak di sini,” kata Bupati Meranti Muhammad Adil dalam video tersebut.

Awalnya, Adil mempertanyakan langsung kepada Direktur Jenderal Perimbangan Keuangan Kemenkeu, Lucky Alfirman perihal Dana Bagi Hasil (DBH) minyak di Kepulauan Meranti dengan Kemendagri dan Kemenkeu.

Muhammad Adil mengklaim, Kepulauan Meranti memproduksi 8 ribu barel minyak per hari. Tapi tidak mendapat laporan rincian penerimaan daerah.

Bupati Meranti tersebut juga meminta kepada pemerintah pusat agar tidak usah lagi mengambil minyak yang diproduksi Kabupaten Meranti.

“Ini orang keuangan isinya iblis atau setan, jangan diambil lagi minyak di Meranti itu,” ucap Muhammad Adil.

Still no apologies from Vatican: MFA diplomat comments on venue offer for Ukraine talks

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova
©Russian Foreign Ministry/TASS

Representatives from the Vatican have not yet apologized for Pope Francis’ remarks about the cruelty of Buryat and Chechen soldiers, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on her Telegram channel, commenting on statements from the Vatican’s Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, who said the city-state could be a suitable place to host negotiators for dialogue on Ukraine.

"I’m afraid the Chechen and Buryat brothers and I did not appreciate that. As far as I remember, there have been no words of apology from the Vatican," Zakharova said.

Pietro Parolin said on Monday that the Vatican wanted "to offer a space where the sides could meet and start a dialogue without any preliminary conditions" on Ukraine.

Earlier, in an interview published by America The Jesuit Review magazine, the Pope called military personnel from Buryatia and Chechnya "the cruelest" soldiers in Ukraine. His remark sparked a wide public outcry both in these republics and in Russia as a whole. Russia’s Ambassador to the Vatican, Alexander Avdeyev expressed indignation and made a statement to that effect to the leadership of the diplomatic service of the Holy See. Maria Zakharova called such statements a distortion of the truth.

Pope Francis claims that his remarks about the cruelty of Buryat and Chechen soldiers were misinterpreted and were only a "figure of speech," the chairman of the World Union of Old Believers, Leonid Sevastyanov, said later, citing a letter he had received from the pontiff.

Russian troops wipe out over 230 military targets in Ukraine operation — top brass

Russian forces struck over 230 Ukrainian army sites in the past day during the special military operation in Ukraine, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov reported on Monday.

©Kementerian Pertahanan Rusia/TASS

"Operational-tactical aircraft, missile troops and artillery destroyed 83 Ukrainian artillery units at firing positions, and also manpower and military hardware in 156 areas," the spokesman said.

Russian forces inflicted damage on the Ukrainian military by firepower in the Kupyansk and Krasny Liman areas, eliminating about 70 militants in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Kupyansk and Krasny Liman areas, as many as 70 Ukrainian troops, three combat armored vehicles and five motor vehicles were eliminated as a result of inflicting damage on the areas of amassed Ukrainian manpower and military equipment by combined firepower," the spokesman said.

Russian forces continue offensive operations in the Donetsk area, successfully repelling Ukrainian army counter-attacks, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Donetsk direction, Russian troops continued their offensive operations. A preemptive strike thwarted an enemy attempt to counter-attack the Russian positions near the settlement of Peski in the Donetsk People’s Republic by a company of the Ukrainian army’s 59th motorized infantry brigade," the spokesman said.

The Ukrainian army’s losses in that direction amounted to 30 personnel, two infantry fighting vehicles and three pickup trucks, the general said.

Russian air defense forces shot down two MiG-29 fighter jets and two Mi-8 helicopters of the Ukrainian Air Force in the Donetsk People’s Republic in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"Russian air defense capabilities shot down two MiG-29 planes of the Ukrainian Air Force in areas near the settlements of Rodinskoye and Pavlovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic. In addition, they shot down two Mi-8 helicopters in the areas of the communities of Kurakhovo and Konstantinovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.

Russian air defense forces intercepted two Ukrainian Tochka-U ballistic missiles and two HIMARS rockets in the Kherson Region in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"Two Ukrainian Tochka-U ballistic missiles and two HIMARS rockets were intercepted in the area of the settlement of Yubilyeinoye in the Kherson Region," the spokesman said.

In addition, Russian air defense capabilities destroyed six Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in areas near the settlements of Golikovo, Ploshchanka, Melovatka and Popasnaya in the Lugansk People’s Republic, Terny in the Kharkov Region and the city of Donetsk, the general specified.

Russian troops obliterated an ammunition depot of the Ukrainian army’s 102nd territorial defense brigade in the Zaporozhye Region in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the area of the settlement of Gulyaypole in the Zaporozhye Region, an ammunition depot of the Ukrainian army’s 102nd territorial defense brigade was obliterated," the spokesman said.

Russian forces destroyed a Grad multiple launch rocket system of the Ukrainian army in the Donetsk People’s Republic in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the area of the settlement of Krasny Liman in the Donetsk People’s Republic, a Grad rocket launcher was destroyed," the spokesman said.

In counter-battery warfare, a Ukrainian Smerch rocket launcher was destroyed in the area of the settlement of Zelyony Gai in the Kharkov Region, the general specified.

In all, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 343 Ukrainian warplanes, 183 helicopters, 2,653 unmanned aerial vehicles, 396 surface-to-air missile systems, 7,076 tanks and other combat armored vehicles, 928 multiple rocket launchers, 3,678 field artillery guns and mortars and 7,568 special military motor vehicles since the beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine, Konashenkov reported.

Young Girl Palestinian Killed in Clashes With Israeli Forces - Health Ministry

©Photo : @haim_goldberg

A 16-year-old Palestinian girl died in clashes with Israeli troops in the West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry informs.

The teenager named Jana Zakarneh was shot and killed on Sunday night in the West Bank city of Jenin, the health ministry said in a statement.

According to The Jerusalem Post, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that they were aware of the report and were looking into the incident.

The IDF spokesperson released a statement saying that Israeli security forces conducted three arrests in Jenin of Palestinians suspected of carrying out attacks against Israelis. During the operation, shots were fired and explosive devices were thrown towards the Israeli forces who returned fire, the IDF says.

Israeli forces entered the city of Jenin on Sunday night and arrested three Palestinians, according to Israeli media reports.

The Jerusalem Post said that three people were injured. There were no casualties among the Israeli troops.

The Israeli military said it was aware of the teenager’s death and that an investigation was underway.

Ata Abu Ramila, one of the leaders of Fatah in Jenin, announced that all Palestinian factions in the refugee camp and the city will strike tomorrow to mark Zakaran's death.

Earlier in the night, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported two Palestinians were wounded by Israeli army gunfire in Jenin. The two were hospitalized in moderate and light condition.

On Thrusday, three Palestinians were killed by Israeli military gunfire fire in Jenin, the Health Ministry in Ramallah reported. The Israeli military said its were conducting an operation to arrest 15 wanted men in Jenin when armed Palestinians began to fire at them.

Dalam Lima Jam Terakhir Terjadi 4 kali Gempa di Indonesia

Foto: Logo BMKG (Ist)

BMKG (Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi dan Geofisika) menginformasikan sejak hari Minggu malam, 11/12/2022, hingga Senin dini hari, 12/12/2022, sudah terjadi 3 kali gempa bumi.

Pertama, pada Minggu malam pukul 23/.13 WIB Gempa dengan kekuatan magnitudo 4,3 terjadi di Pacitan, Jawa Timur. Pusat gempa ada kedalaman 15 km.

Imbas gempa itu dirasakan di 3 lokasi yakni Trenggalek, Pacitan dan Sleman.

"Gempa di 8.88 LS dan 111.44 BR, dengan pusat gempa berada di laut 86 km tenggara Pacitan," demikian keterangan laman Twitter resmi BMKG, pada hari Senin, 12/12/2022.

Gempa kedua, terjadi di Maluku Barat Daya. Guncangan bumi berkekuatan magnituode 4,3. Gempa yang terjadi pada pukul 02.59 WIB itu ada di kedalama 10 km.

"Titik koordinat gempa ada pada 7,83 lintang selatan dan 128,01 bujur timur," demikian informasi BMKG.

Sementara, gempa terbaru terjadi di Labuan Bajo Nusa Tenggara Timur.

Melalui laman Twitter resmi BNKG, gempa di pulau Komodo itu magnitudonya 3,3. Gempa yang kembali terjadi pada pukul 3.27 WIB itu, koordinat lokasi gempa ada di 8,19 lintang selatan dan 120,14 bujur timur.

Pada pukul 3.54 WIB, gempa magnitudo 3,2 kembali terjadi di Barat Daya Seluma Bengkulu. Pusat gempa ada di kedalaman 10 km.

"Dalam beberapa menit pertama setelah gmp, parameter gmp dapat berubah dan boleh jadi belum akurat,kecuali telah dianalisis ulang seismologist," pungkas BMKG.

BMKG: Sebagian Jakarta Berpotensi Diguyur Hujan Disertai Angin Kencang

Menurut prakiraan BMKG, hari ini, Senin sore hingga malam, 12/12/2022, sebagian wilayah DKI Jakarta berpotensi diguyur hujan disertai angin kencang dan kilat/petir dengan durasi singkat.

Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika (BMKG) telah mengeluarkan peringatan dini berdasarkan prakiraan cuaca.

"Waspada potensi hujan yang dapat disertai kilat/petir di sebagian wilayah Jakpus, Jaksel, dan Jaktim pada sore menjelang malam hari," kata BMKG.

Meski begitu, seluruh wilayah Jakarta akan cerah berawan dan berawan pada pagi hari. Kemudian pada siang hari, hujan ringan berpeluang mengguyur Jakarta Timur dan Jakarta Selatan, sementara wilayah lainnya berawan.

Pada malam hari hujan sedang diperkirakan mengguyur Jakarta Barat, Jakarta Pusat, Jakarta Selatan dan Jakarta Timur. Sementara Jakarta Utara dan Kepulauan Seribu hujan ringan.

Adapun suhu udara di wilayah DKI Jakarta 22 derajat hingga 31 derajat celsius dengan kelembaban udara 60-100 persen.

Polisi Blitar tangani kasus penyekapan Wali Kota Blitar

Kondisi terkini rumah dinas Wali Kota Blitar, Jawa Timut, yang dirampok pada hari Senin pagi, 12/12/2022. ANTARA/HO-Polres Blitar Kota

Kasus pencurian disertai dengan penyekapan yang menimpa Wali Kota Blitar Santoso dan istri di rumah dinas yang bersangkutan telah ditangani aparat Kepolisian Resor Blitar Kota, Jawa Timur, pada Senin pagi.

"Kejadian pagi kurang lebih waktu subuh, sekitar jam 3-4 pagi terjadi informasi pencurian dengan kekerasan di rumah dinas bapak Wali Kota Blitar," katanya di Blitar.

Kapolres Blitar Kota, AKBP Argowiyono mengatakan bahwa, anggota sudah melakukan olah TKP (Tempat Kejadian Perkara). Saat ini tim dari Polda Jatim juga membantu pengusutan kasus tersebut.

Ia mengatakan pelaku diduga berjumlah 4-5 orang. Mereka lewat pintu samping rumah dinas Wali Kota Blitar dan melakukan pencurian dengan kekerasan.

Saat beraksi, para pelaku menyekap tiga orang anggota Satpol PP Kota Blitar yang berjaga di rumah dinas tersebut. Setelah melumpuhkan para penjaga mereka masuk ke rumah dinas tersebut.

Kemudian, pelaku bertemu dengan Wali Kota Blitar dan juga menyekap Wali Kota Blitar Santoso dan istri di dalam rumah. Mereka mengancam dan meminta ditunjukkan lokasi penyimpanan barang berharga.

Dalam aksinya, pelaku juga menghancurkan CCTV yang terpasang di dalam rumah dinas.

Pelaku membawa kabur uang serta perhiasan milik istri Wali Kota Blitar dengan total nilai sekitar Rp. 400 juta.

Kapolres mengatakan, kondisi Wali Kota Blitar dan istri saat ini masih trauma dengan kejadian itu. Namun, tidak ada luka serius di tubuh mereka. Hanya luka sedikit saat penyekapan itu terjadi.

Selain itu, kondisi tiga anggota Satpol PP Kota Blitar yang juga sempat disekap saat ini juga baik. Mereka juga sudah dimintai keterangan terkait dengan kejadian pencurian disertai dengan kekerasan itu.

"Kami sampaikan Bapak Wali Kota Blitar dan Ibu baik-baik saja. Tidak ada yang terluka, hanya di sekapan nya itu," ujar dia.

Sementara itu, untuk memudahkan proses penyelidikan di rumah dinas Wali Kota Blitar dipasang garis polisi. Mereka yang tidak berkepentingan dilarang masuk ke dalam area rumah dinas.

"Kami mohon doanya mudah-mudahan dapat cepat terungkap, sehingga para pelaku bisa segera kami amankan," ujar Kapolres.

'Twitter Files' Part 4 Shows How Company Execs Built Case For Post-Jan. 6 Trump Ban

©CHRIS DELMAS

The first installment of what has been dubbed the “Twitter Files” dropped on December 2 via investigative journalist Matt Taibbi. Since then, batches two and three were also made public after the company’s chief executive, Elon Musk, armed Taibbi and his colleague Bari Weiss with further illuminating data.

A fourth batch of the so-called “Twitter Files" has been released by best-selling author Michael Shellenberger.

The latest installment of the treasure trove of data that Twitter CEO Elon Musk vowed would shed light on “free speech suppression” pertains to the social media platform’s actions leading up to the ban on former President Donald Trump instituted on January 8, 2021 after the events at the US capitol on January 6. Like in the case of the preceding batches, the insider information was given to journalists and authors by the tech billionaire to post on their Twitter accounts.

1. TWITTER FILES, PART 4

The Removal of Donald Trump: January 7

As the pressure builds, Twitter executives build the case for a permanent ban

— Michael Shellenberger (@ShellenbergerMD) December 10, 2022

Starting off the thread, Shellenberger titled his first post, “The Removal of Donald Trump: January 7." According to the exchanges revealed in part four of the “Files,” on January 7, senior Twitter executives sought to justify a Trump ban.

This was a day after thousands of Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol building demanding that lawmakers suspend the certification of Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election until claims of election fraud had been thoroughly investigated.

Disregarding the “free speech” or democracy implications, they were angling for a ban in line with a policy tweak that would be tailored exclusively to Trump, the next post by Shellenberger stated.

On Jan 7, senior Twitter execs:

- create justifications to ban Trump

- seek a change of policy for Trump alone, distinct from other political leaders

- express no concern for the free speech or democracy implications of a ban

This #TwitterFiles is reported with @lwoodhouse

— Michael Shellenberger (@ShellenbergerMD) December 10, 2022

The thread reveals how Twitter employees originally pushed back at calls to ban Trump from the platform, but then a barrage of public calls from a number of prominent figures, including former First Lady Michelle Obama, started pouring in.

For years, Twitter had resisted calls to ban Trump.

“Blocking a world leader from Twitter,” it wrote in 2018, “would hide important info... [and] hamper necessary discussion around their words and actions.”https://t.co/qaqklHOHjc

— Michael Shellenberger (@ShellenbergerMD) December 10, 2022

But after the events of Jan 6, the internal and external pressure on Twitter CEO @jack grows.

Former First Lady @michelleobama , tech journalist @karaswisher , @ADL , high-tech VC @ChrisSacca , and many others, publicly call on Twitter to permanently ban Trump. pic.twitter.com/RzNj7WJReg

— Michael Shellenberger (@ShellenbergerMD) December 10, 2022

Twitter’s then-CEO Jack Dorsey, who was on vacation, delegated responsibility to senior executives, according to the investigative journalist.

These included former Twitter Head of Trust and Safety Yoel Roth and others who were all "overwhelmingly progressive," he stated, adding that "in 2018, 2020, and 2022, 96%, 98%, & 99% of Twitter staff's political donations went to Democrats."

Dorsey is said to have sent an email to employees on January 7, urging them to stay "consistent" with policies, "including the right of users to return to Twitter after temporary suspension."

On January 7, @Jack emails employees saying Twitter needs to remain consistent in its policies, including the right of users to return to Twitter after a temporary suspension

After, Roth reassures an employee that "people who care about this... aren't happy with where we are" pic.twitter.com/IfDpEVnOtR

— Michael Shellenberger (@ShellenbergerMD) December 10, 2022

However, Roth is revealed in a subsequent screenshot as appearing to reassure an employee that "people who care about this... aren't happy with where we are."

Finally, Roth informed colleagues about news that he was "excited to share," Shellenberger tweeted. Yoel Roth was shown telling staff in Direct Messages (DM) that Jack Dorsey had "just approved repeat offender for civic integrity." This meant that a new policy on the platform would ensure that five violations ("strikes") "would result in permanent suspension."

A colleague then asked Roth if the decision signified that Trump could be banned, as he had one "remaining strike."

"Does the incitement to violence aspect change that calculus?" an employee asked, as Donald Trump and his allies were accused of instigating the attack on the Capitol. But Joel Roth responded that this was "for everything else," while Trump still had one strike left.

However, the very next day, Twitter announced a permanent ban on Donald Trump, citing the "risk of further incitement of violence,’" Shellenberger underscored.

Around 11:30 am PT, Roth DMs his colleagues with news that he is excited to share.

“GUESS WHAT,” he writes. “Jack just approved repeat offender for civic integrity.”

The new approach would create a system where five violations ("strikes") would result in permanent suspension. pic.twitter.com/F1KYqd1Xea

— Michael Shellenberger (@ShellenbergerMD) December 11, 2022

Twitter added on January 8, 2021, that its ban was based on "specifically how [Trump's tweets] are being received & interpreted.'"

Furthermore, the latest batch of the Twitter Files shows how employees of the microblogging site "engaged in complex interpretations of content in order to stamp out prohibited tweets." Shellenberger's thread reveals a series of exchanges over the "#stopthesteal' hashtag."

Roth messaged a Twitter colleague to underscore the need to deamplify the "stopthesteal" and QAnon conspiracy term "Kraken" by adding them to a blacklist of terms, Shellenberger wrote.

Indeed, notes Roth's colleague, "a quick search of top stop the steal tweets and they’re counterspeech"

But they quickly come up with a solution: "deamplify accounts with stopthesteal in the name/profile" since "those are not affiliated with counterspeech" pic.twitter.com/BjVvtAhLtw

— Michael Shellenberger (@ShellenbergerMD) December 11, 2022

Twitter employees also debated whether to punish users who shared screenshots of Trump's deleted January 6 tweets, with one staff worker allegedly saying that "we should bounce these tweets with a strike given the screen shot violates the policy," while another argued that "they are criticizing Trump, so I am bit hesitant with applying strike to this user."

Further along in the fourth installment of the files, shared screenshots show how a sales executive wrote to Yoel Roth to ask for clarification regarding Jack Dorsey's remark that "we will permanently suspend (Trump) if our policies are violated after a 12 hour account lock."

Roth responded by saying this meant "any" policy violation. When the Twitter employee asked if the company was "dropping the public interest (policy) now.." Roth is shown as answering later that, "in this specific case, we're changing our public interest approach for his account," in reference to Donald Trump's.

What happens next is essential to understanding how Twitter justified banning Trump.

Sales exec: "are we dropping the public interest [policy] now..."

Roth, six hours later: "In this specific case, we're changing our public interest approach for his account..." pic.twitter.com/XRUFil2npI

— Michael Shellenberger (@ShellenbergerMD) December 11, 2022

Additional "Twitter Files" are expected to be released on Sunday by journalist Bari Weiss, Shellenberger concluded.

Twitter down, banyak pengguna mengalami masalah loading halaman

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