Police Arrested Fraudster Under The Guise Of Umrah In Banjarmasin

ILLUSTRATION OF DOK VOI

BANJARMASIN - Officers of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the West Banjarmasin Police, Banjarmasin Police, South Kalimantan, arrested the perpetrators of embezzlement and fraud with the initials AH (49) under the guise of Umrah.

"AH deceived the victim who promised to go for Umrah after getting some money, the perpetrator fled," said West Banjarmasin Police Chief Kompol Aris Munandar as reported by ANTARA, Friday, September 27.

Aris said officers arrested suspect AH at his home in the Balangan Regency, South Kalimantan on Wednesday at around 00.15 WITA.

From the arrest of the perpetrator, the police confiscated several pieces of evidence, including 30 letters of appointment of agents from PT Ma'ali Wisata, a list of pilgrims registered at PT Ma'ali Wisata as of October 10-24 December 2023, and 78 blue passports with the cost of using the victim's money.

Furthermore, the police also secured a red shirt that had been sewn from PT Ma'ali Wisata, a guidebook from PT Ma'ali Wisata, a data storage unit (flashdisk) containing video recordings and photos at the time of the incident as well as photoscreenshots of the victim's communication with the perpetrator through the WhatsApp application.

Officers found a note from Riab Indo Tour which is located at Jalan Ayani Km 1, Baru Piring Village, South Paringin District, Balangan Regency which was given from the perpetrator to the victim.

"For the perpetrator's actions, the victim suffered a loss of Rp. 33 million and immediately made a police report to the West Banjarmasin Police," said Aris.

Aris explained that the chronology of the incident began when the perpetrator promised the victim to send Umrah through PT Ma'ali Wisata, but until now the victim has not been dispatched.

Meanwhile, the victim's money that had been handed over to suspect AH was also not returned, then the victim felt cheated and reported it to the West Banjarmasin Police.

Currently, members of the West Banjarmasin Police have detained and named AH as a suspect with threats of Article 378 and/or Article 372 of the Criminal Code on Fraud and Embezzlement.