Kendari Police Station Names Director of PT Travelina as Suspect of Illegal Umrah

Kendari Police Chief Kombes Edwin L. Sengka during a press conference in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, Monday (10/8/2026). (ANTARA/La Ode Muh Deden Saputra)

KENDARI - The Kendari City Police (Polresta) have named the Director of PT Travelina Indonesia with the initials MWA (48) as a new suspect in the case of alleged illegal umrah worship which has affected dozens of prospective pilgrims.

Kendari Police Chief Kombes Edwin L. Sengka said the establishment of the MWA was the result of the development of the investigation into the main suspect with the initials AK who had been secured since mid-February 2026.

"This matter is an expansion of the case of alleged criminal acts of organizing the umrah pilgrimage which occurred on Saturday, February 14, 2026," said Edwin as reported by ANTARA, Monday, August 10.

The determination of the suspect was made after investigators investigated the testimony of witnesses, victims, expert witnesses, and documents related to the case.

The team of the Special Criminal Investigation Unit (Tipidter) of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Kendari Police arrested MWA at his residence in the Kebayoran Baru area, South Jakarta, Thursday (6/8) evening.

MWA was then taken to Kendari to undergo further legal proceedings related to the case.

Edwin explained that MWA was suspected of playing a role in facilitating the administration and legality of the licensing system as the holder of the Umrah Travel Organizer (PPIU) license of PT Travelina Indonesia.

According to him, MWA is suspected of helping AK to enter data on 64 prospective pilgrims collected by the main suspect into the Special Umrah and Hajj Management Computerization System (SISKOPATUH) in the period December 2025 to February 2026.

"In this case, MWA played a role in facilitating the management of the congregation data collected by the main suspect by utilizing the program access and official permits of his company," said Edwin.

He said MWA allegedly received a reward of Rp. 200 thousand per congregation from the inputting of the data. From 64 prospective pilgrims, the total profit received by MWA is said to have reached Rp. 12.8 million.

During the investigation, the police seized a number of evidence in the form of banners, suitcases, guidebooks, lanyards, and travel documents for pilgrims.

In addition, investigators seized the burned printouts of flight tickets for the Kendari-Jakarta and Jakarta-Jeddah routes, hotel reservation cancellation documents in Mecca and Medina, and visa documents.

The police also secured the newspaper's account and one computer unit related to the case.

Kendari Police are still investigating the case to investigate the alleged involvement of other parties responsible for the case of the organization of the umrah pilgrimage.