49 People Become Victims Of Abusing Umrah Travel Agents PT HMS In Yogyakarta, Losing Almost IDR 14 Billion

The Yogyakarta Regional Police held a press conference on cases of fraud and embezzlement of Umrah departures at the Yogyakarta Regional Police Headquarters, Sleman, Yogyakarta, Thursday (23/1/2025). BETWEEN/Luqman Hakim

YOGYAKARTA - The Directorate of General Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimum) of the Yogyakarta Special Region Police (DIY) arrested a woman with the initials ID (46), a suspect in a case of fraud and embezzlement of Umrah departure which resulted in victims' losses of up to Rp. 14 billion.

Direktur Reserse Kriminal Umum Polda DIY Kombes FX. Endriadi menyebut, ID, warga Mergangsan, Kota Yogyakarta merupakan pemilik agent travel umrah PT HMS.

"The mode carried out by the suspect that we are processing is that this suspect has an Umrah and Hajj travel agent who offers a relatively cheap trip," he said during a press conference at the Yogyakarta Police Headquarters, Sleman, DI Yogyakarta, Antara, Thursday, January 23.

Endriadi said the disclosure of the case began with a report by one of the victims with the initials A on November 29, 2024. Suspect ID through PT HMS offered various Umrah packages to victims at prices ranging from Rp33 million to Rp48 million for business class with a departure schedule in December 2024.

Interested in the perpetrator's offer, the victim then ordered and transferred the travel fee through the account of PT HMS and the perpetrator's personal account.

After being paid off, the victim then received an itinary trip or travel schedule, including tickets and various other equipment such as suitcases, prayer books, batik clothes, back bags or waist bags, as well as ihram clothes.

"However, it turned out that until the time promised the departure did not occur or not be carried out. The transferred money funds were also not returned to the victim," said Endriadi.

The Yogyakarta Regional Police noted that 49 victims had reported with a total loss of Rp. 1.529 billion. They consist of residents of Yogyakarta and West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).

Investigators have also confiscated a number of evidences from the suspect's house, travel bureau offices, and the victims include documents, receipts, agreement letters, and account books used in transactions.

"In November 2024 there were 11 people, all of whom were residents of Yogyakarta. In December there were 24 NTB residents. Furthermore, in January 2025 there were 14 people," he said.

After further investigation, the police found documents containing records of all victims who had not been dispatched from December 2024 to April 2025, reaching 291 people with a total loss of around Rp12 billion.

There are also 11 packages of Furode Hajj trips for the period May 'June 2025 with a loss value of IDR 2.149 billion.

"There is an allegation that the losses of all consumers are around Rp. 14 billion," said Kombes Pol. Endriadi.

For his actions, the suspect was charged with Articles 378 and 372 of the Criminal Code regarding fraud and embezzlement with a maximum penalty of 4 years in prison.

The Yogyakarta Regional Police then established a complaint post for people who felt they were victims to submit complaints offline or online.

Head of the Hajj and Umrah Organization Division of the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religion, DIY Jauhar Mustofa, said that PT HMS had obtained an operational permit as the organizer of the Umrah pilgrimage (PPIU) since July 2023.

"In the beginning, the information we received from the public, in 2023 the service was good. So, at that time it was really recommended. We didn't know then there was misuse. Well, I think we really need to be aware of this," said Jauhar.