Aceh Corruption Convict Arrested While About to Fly for Umrah

The Aceh High Prosecutor’s Office has arrested a convict in a corruption case involving a community tobacco farming development programme in Bener Meriah Regency, identified as Usman Bin Naen (65).

Usman was arrested as he was about to depart for umrah through Kualanamu International Airport in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra.

The retired civil servant from Kampung Bantin Wih Pongas, Bukit District, Bener Meriah, had previously been placed on the wanted list by the Bener Meriah District Prosecutor’s Office after failing to comply with summonses to serve his sentence.

“The convict was successfully secured based on intensive tracking and search efforts by the Tabur team of the Aceh High Prosecutor’s Office,” said Ali Rasab Lubis, Head of Legal Information at the Aceh High Prosecutor’s Office, on Thursday (27/8).

Usman was convicted in a corruption case involving activities funded by the 2013 regional budget.

In the case, Usman served as the Technical Implementation Officer for the activity.

He and another party were found to have caused state financial losses amounting to Rp443.49 million based on an audit by the Aceh Representative Office of the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency.

The Corruption Court at the Banda Aceh District Court, through Decision Number 64/Pid.Sus-TPK/2025/PN Bna dated 8 January 2026, declared Usman legally and convincingly proven to have committed corruption jointly.

Usman was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison and fined Rp50 million. If the fine is not paid, it will be replaced by one year of confinement.

The trial proceedings in the case were previously conducted without Usman’s presence. After the verdict was handed down, prosecutors repeatedly issued summonses.

However, Usman did not comply with the summonses and his whereabouts were unknown. The Bener Meriah District Prosecutor’s Office then placed him on the wanted list.

The Aceh High Prosecutor’s Office team subsequently received information that Usman was about to perform umrah, and he was arrested at the airport.

“The Tabur team received information that the convict was at Kualanamu International Airport about to travel for umrah. Upon receiving that information, the team immediately secured Usman,” he said.

After his arrest, Usman was taken to the North Sumatra High Prosecutor’s Office for administrative and health checks.

“From there, the convict will be taken to the Bener Meriah District Prosecutor’s Office for execution in accordance with the court decision that has permanent legal force,” he said.