Detachment 88: Farid Okban And Ahmad Zain An Najah Play A Role In Giving Guidance On JI Terrorist Financing

JAKARTA - The Special Detachment (Densus) 88 Anti-terror Police revealed the important role of Farid Okbah and Ahmad Zain An Najah in the funding foundation belonging to the Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) group, namely as people who were asked for instructions in collecting and distributing funds.

Head of the Operations Assistance Section (Head of Banops) Densus 88 Anti-terror Police Kombes Aswin Siregar said Farid Ahmad Okbah was a member of the Baitul Mal Amil Zakat Institute Abdurrahman Bin Auf (LAM BM ABA) chaired by Ahmad Zain An Najah.

"The chairman of BM ABA who was arrested by FS (Fitria Sanjaya) in his structure asked for instructions and reports to FAO and ZA, he asked for instructions and how, what else to do and so on," said Aswin at the National Police Headquarters, Thursday, November 25.

FS is the Chairman of BM ABA who was arrested in 2020. FS after asking for instructions from the suspects FAO and ZA, then coordinates with the couriers or people related to the funds that will be collected or have been collected.

The money that had been collected, continued Aswin, was brought by FS to be reported to the central treasurer of the JI group with the initials SJ.

"SJ has also been arrested," explained Aswin.

According to Aswin, the JI group funding institutions and foundations are able to raise billions of rupiah per year from fundraising activities.

The JI group, he said, established legal institutions and foundations, had a notary deed and an office. Two charitable institutions were formed, namely the Baitul Mal Amil Zakat Institution Abdurrahman Bin Auf (LAM BM ABA) and the Syam Organizer (SO).

"You can imagine that these foundations or activities collect up to billions of dollars, for example, Syam Abadi, in the investigation, it was revealed that his income was almost Rp. 14 billion per year," said Aswin.

According to Aswin, the JI group applies a break system in calculating its financial statements to avoid formal records.

"This amount is far more fantastic than what we can reveal in the form of a report. Some say it's around Rp. 14 billion, but it's around 15 billion per year and in BM ABA it's also not much different, it's around Rp. 14 billion per year," explained Aswin.

Aswin also said that at the time of the confiscation at the Syam Organizer head office, Rp 944.8 million in cash was confiscated.

As is known, the National Police's Anti-terror Detachment 88 arrested three Muslim preachers involved in financing the JI terrorist group in Bekasi, last November 16.

The three people have been named as suspects, namely Farid Ahmad Okbah, Ahmad Zain An Najah and Anung Al Hamat.

Ahmad Zain An Najah was once listed as a member of the Central MUI Fatwa Commission, while Farid Okbah, a member of the Bekasi MUI Fatwa Commission.

Farid Okbah is also a member of the JI group's syuro board, having served as a member of the Sharia Board of LAM BM ABA, while Ahmad Zain An Najah served as Chairman of LAM BM ABA.

As for Anung Al Hamat, his role as the founder of Perisai Nusantara Esa, an advocacy organization for the JI group.