Victims of Hanania Travel Scam Reach 1,286, House Deputy Speaker Demands Severe Punishment

The number of victims in the alleged Umrah travel fraud case involving Hanania Travel has reached 1,286 people, with total losses amounting to Rp 35.34 billion. Deputy Speaker of House Commission III Ahmad Sahroni has demanded that the boss of Hanania Travel, Ahmad Shah Farhan, who has been named a suspect, be punished as severely as possible. “This suspect must be heavily punished; it is utterly shameful to use religion to justify fraud,” Sahroni told reporters on Wednesday (17/6/2026). He stated that this case has had repercussions for other travel companies and urged law enforcement to seriously investigate the matter. “Other companies are being affected; the police must not be half-hearted in handling this major case. It is pitiful for those who hoped to perform worship but were deceived instead,” he said. Furthermore, he called on law enforcement to immediately seize all of the suspect’s assets so that the pilgrims’ money can be returned. “I request that all assets be seized to compensate the defrauded customers,” he stated. It was previously reported that the investigation into the alleged Umrah travel fraud involving Hanania Travel is ongoing. A total of 1,286 people have been identified as victims, with losses reaching Rp 35.34 billion. “The number of victims is 1,286 persons with a total nominal loss of Rp 35,342,293,500,” said the victims’ legal counsel, Joddy Mulyasetya Putra, to reporters at Polda Metro Jaya on Wednesday (17/6). Joddy explained that the victims were not only defrauded regarding Umrah trips but also Hajj pilgrimages. He said the victims, who had saved money to travel to the holy land for worship, had to swallow the bitter pill of being deceived by Hanania Travel. “They had handed over money to Hanania. However, Hanania had not yet transferred the money to BPKH. The initial down payment had been deposited to Hanania but had not been forwarded to BPKH, which should have been done,” he explained. Joddy added that the victims were lured with Hajj and Umrah packages. However, until Hanania Travel was apprehended by Polda Metro, the victims had not received their Hajj registration numbers. “They were told that those registering for Hajj would get a free Umrah in the month of Syawal. So people who registered for Hajj and paid the down payment were told ‘Register for Hajj Plus and get a free Umrah in Syawal’, but then they did not receive their Hajj registration numbers. They were also supposed to be dispatched for Umrah, like that,” he explained.