Police uncover 'Sultan Nusantara' scam in Banyumas
Do not easily believe anyone claiming noble descent and demanding financial compensation under the guise of purifying assets or guaranteeing religious pilgrimage.
Purwokerto - Police have uncovered a scam under the guise of ‘Sultan Nusantara’ in Banyumas Regency, Central Java, after a Sokaraja resident suffered losses of up to Rp50.8 million due to promises of asset purification and Hajj arrangements by a suspect posing as a sultan’s descendant.
Banyumas City Police Chief Commissioner Petrus P Silalahi stated on Tuesday that the Criminal Investigation Unit (Satreskrim) of Banyumas Police had identified a man with the initials W (51) as a suspect in the case.
‘The suspect convinced the victim that their assets needed to be purified by paying royalties to avoid being considered ’haram’ before Allah. The victim was also promised a Hajj pilgrimage,’ he said.
The victim, identified as AS, a businessman from Sokaraja, first met the suspect when seeking cupping therapy in September 2025.
‘Following this, the victim was invited to attend regular religious study sessions conducted by the suspect,’ he said.
During these sessions, the suspect claimed to be the grandson of Sultan Hamid II and stated that the victim’s palm oil plantation in Kalimantan was inherited from the sultan’s family.
The suspect then persuaded the victim that all their business earnings were ‘haram’ and needed to be purified through regular royalty payments.
The victim was instructed to pay Rp3 million every 20 days.
When the victim harvested palm oil in January 2026, the suspect demanded an additional royalty payment of up to Rp50 million.
Additionally, the suspect requested another Rp1.8 million under the pretext of assisting other study group members facing financial difficulties.
As a result of these demands, the victim’s total losses amounted to Rp50.8 million before they ceased payments and reported the case to Banyumas Police on 8 May 2026.
The suspect faces charges under Article 492 or Article 486 of Law No. 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code.
The police chief urged the public to be more critical of individuals claiming royal lineage or specific titles in religious activities, especially when accompanied by financial requests.
‘Do not easily believe anyone claiming noble descent and demanding financial compensation under the guise of purifying assets or guaranteeing religious pilgrimage. Report any such indications to the nearest police station immediately,’ he said.