Conman posed as CIA agent to target Indonesian defence minister
An Indian-origin businessman named Srivastava nearly tricked Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto into signing defence deals by pretending to be a CIA agent. The conman built a close relationship with Subianto when he served as Indonesia's defence minister, according to reports.
How the scam unfolded
Srivastava allegedly used his fake CIA identity to gain access to high-level meetings and propose lucrative defence contracts. He managed to develop strong ties with Prabowo Subianto, exploiting the minister's trust. The scam was uncovered before any final agreements were signed.
According to sources, the conman presented himself as a representative of US intelligence to push for arms deals worth millions of dollars. The Indonesian authorities later realised the deception and took action.
Impact on Indonesia-US relations
The incident raised concerns about security protocols in Indonesia's defence ministry. It also highlighted vulnerabilities in vetting foreign business partners. No official comment has been made by the Indonesian government or the US embassy.
