Facts On The Use Of Dinar And Dirham In Muamalah Market That Will Send You To Jail

Illustration (Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Indonesian National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim Polri) arrested Zaim Saidi, the founder of Muamalah Market in Depok, West Java, who held a market with dirhams and dinars as means of payment.

Zaim was arrested by investigators from the Directorate of Special Economic Crimes at his residence, on Tuesday, February 2. After being arrested, Zaim was immediately examined intensively.

From this examination, several new facts emerged regarding the case of using the dinar and dirham as a transaction tool.

6 years of operation

To investigators, Zaim admitted that the market he manages has been operating since 2014. The location is also on empty land on Jalan Tanah Baru, Depok, West Java.

Even though it has been operating for years, Muamalah Market does not have activities every day

"The market is held every 2 weeks, namely Sundays from 10.00 am until 12.00 pm local time", Head of Public Relations Division of the National Police, Ahmad Ramadhan, at National Police Headquarters, Wednesday, February 3.

In addition, Zaim who is the Amirat Nusantara (Muamalah Market Leader) also said that Muamalah Market aims to follow market traditions in the prophet's era. At that time, the means of exchange for transactions used dinars and dirhams.

"Such as leases and payment transactions using dirhams and dinars", he said.

Selling Staples

In that market, not all goods are traded. Only certain items are sold there, for example, basic necessities and clothing.

"The goods that are sold are basic necessities, food, drinks, and clothing", said Ahmad Ramadhan.

Apart from that, the number of merchants there were not too many. Initially, this market was only for Zaim's community, but it is open to the public recently.

"The number of traders in that place is between 10-15", he said.

2.5 Percent Profit

Another fact that emerged from this case was that Zaim earned profits from this Muamalah Market activity.

"The suspect ZS determined the purchase price of the dinar and dirham coins according to PT Aneka Tambang's price", said Ramadhan.

Zaim made a profit of 2.5 percent. The profit is earned not from the rental of traders at Muamalah Market, but when the participants or buyers and sellers exchange rupiah for dinars and dirhams.

For one dinar, the current exchange rate is estimated at IDR 4 million. Meanwhile, one dirham is equivalent to a value of IDR 73,500.

"The dinars that are used as a mean of payment at Muamalah Market is gold coins of 4 1/4 grams, 22 carat gold, while the dirhams are silver coins weighing 2.975 grams of pure silver", he said.

Gold and Silver Orders

The gold coins used to make dinars were ordered from several parties. Meanwhile, silver coins were ordered from a craftsman in Jakarta.

"The dinars and dirhams were ordered from PT Antam, the Sultanate of Bintan, the Sultanate of Cirebon, the Sultanate of Ternate at a price according to the reference of PT Antam. In addition, the silver dirhams were obtained from craftsmen in Pulomas, Jakarta at a lower price than the reference of PT Antam", he said.

The dinars and dirhams in Muamalah Market include Zaim's name. The goal is to indicate if he is the one in charge.

"The dinars and dirhams used the name of the suspect ZS with the aim of being the one who was responsible for the weight content of the dinar and dirham coins", said Ramadhan.

Muamalah Market Activities Are Not Conspicuous

The National Police has just revealed this case because the market was inconspicuous before. The market operates erratically so that it cannot be monitored.

"This market operates once a month. Sometimes once a month, or 2 weeks, right? Not once every 2 weeks, but once a month", he said.

Muamalah Market operates 2-4 hours and uses coins as a medium of exchange.

"Initially, the merchants were only from his community, now, as time goes by, there are 10 to 15 traders", he said.

In fact, in the disclosure of this case, the investigator must also go through the investigation process. So, it takes time to get evidence.

"Yes, the investigators must be sure first that the evidence fulfills the elements, then conducts an investigation, then an arrest will be made", he said.