Typically, wealth is earned through hard work and success. Yet, not everyone takes the honest path—some choose shortcuts through criminal acts. This happened to a Dutch couple living in Batavia in the 1910s, who enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle funded by bank theft worth the equivalent of Rp175 billion.

The man, A.M. Sonneveld, and his wife were known for their affluent lifestyle, frequently visiting the elite entertainment venue Societeit Harmoni. They spent lavishly night after night, and no one suspected anything because the public believed they were genuinely wealthy.

Sonneveld had previously served as a KNIL officer and earned recognition from the Dutch Queen. After early retirement, he worked at one of the largest private banks, the Nederlandsch Indie Escompto Maatschappij, as the head of customer funds—earning a substantial salary.

His professional background made people assume his wealth was legitimate—until early September 1913, when newspapers reported a serious crime involving a bank employee named A.M. Sonneveld.

According to the Deli Courant (September 5, 1913), the 45-year-old was proven to have stolen 122,000 guilders from clients. This was uncovered after the bank launched an internal investigation into suspicious transactions.

At that time, 122,000 guilders could buy 73 kilograms of gold—now valued at roughly Rp175.2 billion. Realizing his misconduct had been discovered, Sonneveld and his wife escaped before authorities could arrest them. They were soon declared fugitives, and their descriptions were published across newspapers.

The Sumatra Post described him as having a brown complexion, Dutch descent, scars on his right cheek and knee, and around 45 years old. These details helped police track their movements. The couple was found to have traveled to Bandung by train from Meester Cornelis.

From there, they proceeded to Surabaya. During the train ride, Sonneveld met an acquaintance and claimed they were headed to Hong Kong for a comparative study at the bank’s branch—but the acquaintance sensed a lie and notified the police. Authorities quickly contacted Hong Kong police.

Shortly after arriving in Hong Kong, Sonneveld and his wife were arrested and extradited. Police also confiscated a bag containing the remaining stolen money. Upon returning to the Indies, they were brought to trial. Sonneveld admitted stealing to support his extravagant lifestyle, while his wife knowingly covered up his actions.

He was sentenced to five years in prison, while his wife received a three-month sentence. The case became one of the largest theft scandals in the Indies during the 1910s.

Today, financial crimes have become even more sophisticated. Criminals can easily exploit online platforms to breach bank accounts, making vigilance more important than ever.