The National Police Follow-up 3 Indonesian Citizens Arrested in Mecca for Hajj Service Fraud Case

JAKARTA - The National Police, as part of the Hajj and Umrah Task Force, followed up on reports regarding Saudi security personnel in Mecca City who arrested three Indonesian citizens for alleged Hajj service fraud.

Wakapolri Komjen Dedi Prasetyo said the National Police would collaborate with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Indonesian Embassy to communicate this case with the Saudi Arabian Police because the location of the case was in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

"However, for Indonesian citizens who face the law in other countries, the state's obligation is also to provide legal assistance," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, April 30.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak revealed that the three Indonesian citizens were suspected of committing fraud in the form of producing and advertising fake documents related to Hajj.

"They committed this crime, then were arrested by the Saudi Arabian police and of course it requires assistance from our police in Indonesia," he said.

To handle this case, he said that his party asked for additional police personnel to talk more with the Saudi Arabian Police regarding the regulation and management of the hajj in the country.

Previously, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs received information from the Indonesian Consulate General (KJRI) in Jeddah that three people suspected of having Indonesian citizenship were arrested by Saudi security forces in Mecca City on Tuesday (28/4).

"The three are suspected of being involved in fraudulent and embezzlement practices related to illegal hajj services, including through the dissemination of false hajj service advertisements on social media," said the Director of Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Heni Hamidah.

According to Heni, Saudi security personnel also found a number of evidence, including money, computer devices, and suspected fake Hajj cards. Two of the three people reportedly used the attributes of Indonesian Hajj officers during the arrest.

"Currently, the Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah is verifying the identities of the perpetrators, coordinating with the local government, to oversee the next legal process in accordance with applicable regulations," said Heni.