MAKASSAR - The Unit III Tipidter Team of the Gowa Police Criminal Investigation Unit, assisted by the Opsnal Team of the Malang Police Criminal Investigation Unit, finally arrested a couple of husband and wife who embezzled umrah and hajj funds from Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi, in Malang City, East Java.
"It has been secured and the perpetrator was arrested in Sukun District, Malang. Both of them have been detained at the Gowa Police and have been named suspects," said Head of Unit (Kanit) III Tipidter Gowa Police, Ipda Nova Tanjung Suryadinata, as reported by ANTARA, Friday, February 20.
The two perpetrators are a married couple (pasutri) namely the initials AS (50) wife, a civil servant (ASN) and PU (62) husband, later known as a retired TNI. The two are suspected of deceiving dozens of victims of prospective umrah pilgrims.
This case was initially reported by the victim because he felt there was something strange, their backs were tricked by the perpetrator. Furthermore, they reported the incident with police report number: LP.B/1105/X/2025/SPKT/RES GOWA/POLDA SULSEL dated October 8, 2025.
The fraud incident took place in June 2025 on Jalan Mangka Daeng Bombong, BTN Dean Florinda, Somba Opu District, Gowa Regency. At that time, the victim was offered cooperation by the perpetrator.
The victim was asked to open the umrah and hajj travel unit of the Travel Tour Bimantara Jaya Gemilang Makassar branch in Gowa. They finally agreed and the victim trusted the perpetrators.
Some time later, the victim managed to collect and register as many as 46 umrah pilgrims and one prospective haji pilgrim. The money of the pilgrims was collected and deposited with the travel party of the perpetrator with the promise of being immediately sent.
However, the promised departure time was not fulfilled, even though all the funds had been handed over to the suspect a week before departure. Later, information was obtained, they used the funds for their personal needs.
For his actions, the victim had to bear losses of hundreds of millions to cover the departure of the congregation who had deposited their funds. Feeling aggrieved, the two perpetrators were reported to the police station for legal proceedings.
After being reported, the two ignored two summonses to the police without a clear and valid reason according to the law. The next action was to forcibly pick up the perpetrators because they were considered uncooperative, so the team arrested them. Regarding the amount of losses, it is still under police investigation.
"There is evidence secured in the form of financial transaction documents and bank accounts of the flow of funds that have entered. Both are charged with Article 492 of the Criminal Code and or Article 486 of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code. The motive is for personal gain," said Nova emphasizing.
Separately, the Head of the Gowa Regency Office of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj) HM Alim Bachrie was shocked after being confirmed about two Hajj and Umrah travel perpetrators were arrested in Malang City. He reminded the public to be careful and carefully choose a travel.
"This kind of incident often happens. If the permit for the operation of the Hajj and Umrah travel is issued by the center. We are here only to list and conduct training. It is also a pity that the victims have worked hard to collect money to be able to go to the holy land, but they were eventually deceived," said this alumnus of IAIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
