Citibank Prohibited from Outsourcing Collections

The Bank of Indonesia Deputy Governor Budi Rochadi advised that Citbank was prohibited from outsourcing its debt collection. This follows an earlier order to stop issuing Credit Cards following the suspicious death of a customer - Irzen Octa.

Police in Jakarta said that a debt collector "simply laughed" upon news that a debtor was lying on the floor with foam coming out of his mouth.

The Jakarta Post reports;

"Irzen Octa, the secretary-general of the National Unity Party (PBB), died after allegedly being beaten by Citibank debt collectors at the bank's Jamsostek branch.

According to South Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Gatot Eddy Pramono, two employees saw Irzen through a small window sprawled on the floor with saliva coming out of his mouth at 12:10.

Irzen was in a room called "Cleo", where he was questioned by three Citibank debt collectors.

"The two witnesses reported this to [one of the suspects] and he simply laughed," Gatot said.

He added that the witnesses went to lunch and when they returned help had not been given to Irzen.

Gatot further said that the suspect who laughed had previously informed the debt collection head about Irzen's condition. However, the head told the suspect that the "victim was bluffing".

At 13:25, an employee at the bank called a number that was recorded as the most missed calls on Irzen's mobile phone, Gatot said.

The phone number belonged to Irzen's friend, who came to the scene at 2 p.m.

"According to [the friend], Irzen was already lifeless when he came to see the victim," Gatot said, adding that it was the friend who brought Irzen to Mintoardjo Hospital.

He said Irzen showed no signs of life at the hospital.

"Irzen was brought to Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital for an autopsy the next day," he said.