Southeast Sulawesi Police Track IDR 7 Billion in Illegal Umrah Funds via Money Laundering Article

The Directorate of General Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimum) of the Southeast Sulawesi Regional Police (Polda Sultra) is tracking the flow of IDR 7 billion in illegal umrah funds from PT Tajak Ramadhan Grup (TRG) through the application of the Money Laundering Crime Act (TPPU).

Director of General Criminal Investigation for Polda Sultra, Senior Commissioner Wisnu Wibowo, stated on Friday that the application of the money laundering article demonstrates investigators’ commitment to maximising asset tracing in order to recover the material losses suffered by the victims. “To date, we have received more than 13 complaint reports with the number of victims reaching 218 prospective umrah pilgrims and total losses amounting to approximately IDR 7 billion,” Wisnu Wibowo said during a press conference at the Southeast Sulawesi Regional Police Headquarters.

In handling this case, the police have named two suspects, identified as IGM, the branch head of the TRG umrah travel agency, and AN, the manager. In addition to being charged with fraud and embezzlement, both now face money laundering charges. Investigators have currently seized a type 36 house in Anawai Village, Wua-wua District, Kendari City, based on a special seizure permit from the Kendari District Court, as one piece of evidence for the money laundering case. “We want to provide benefits for the victims who have been questioning where their money went. We will handle this case professionally until the entire legal process is completed,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs for Southeast Sulawesi, H. Muhammad Lalan Jaya, appreciated the swift action of the Polda Sultra’s General Criminal Investigation Directorate in uncovering the case. “We appreciate the uncovering of this case. We also continue to remind the public, especially those who have no experience performing worship abroad, to be careful in choosing umrah travel agencies. Ensure the chosen travel agency has an official permit and can be checked through the SATU HAJI application,” he stated.

Head of Public Relations for Polda Sultra, Senior Commissioner Iis Kristian, explained that the uncovering of this case is part of the follow-up to a government policy through the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah together with the Indonesian National Police, which officially formed a Task Force for the Prevention of Illegal Hajj as a measure to protect umrah and hajj pilgrims and take firm action against illegal practices and fraud cases by travel agencies. Law enforcement will be carried out firmly against criminal perpetrators. “In handling this, investigators are also applying the TPPU article as an effort so that the law enforcement carried out is expected to provide tangible benefits to the victims,” he said. Iis urged the public to always be vigilant against offers of umrah and hajj travel packages that offer low costs or other suspicious offers.