Police Unload Bodong Sharia KPR Sales Syndicate

Polda Metro Jaya press conference (Rizki / VOI)

JAKARTA - Polda Metro Jaya exposed fraudulent practices with the mode of selling and building Islamic housing. At least this fraud syndicate has existed for almost four years, since 2015.

Metro Jaya Police Chief Inspector General Gatot Eddy said the number of fraud victims reached 270. Police have arrested four suspects in this case. They are AD as Managing Director of PT ARM Cipta Mulia, MAA as Project Manager or Marketing, MMD as Executive Project Manager or Marketing, and SM as General Manager.

"There are about 41 people who reported to Polda Metro Jaya, we are carrying out an investigation and then we can arrest the perpetrators," said Gatot at Polda Metro Jaya, Jakarta, Thursday, November 28.

In carrying out their actions, the suspects tricked their victims with the lure of low mortgage installments with interest-free loans. They also pointed out a number of sharia housing locations belonging to PT ARM and will soon conduct ground breaking. Sharia housing offers are made using brochures and advertisements on the website.

To convince the victim, the suspects also made mock-ups of the houses for sale. Moreover, the perpetrators also promised the victim that there would be no checking from the bank when applying for credit.

Bodong Islamic housing mockup (Rizki / VOI)

At least, there are five housing locations offered, namely De 'Alexandria Bojong Gede Bogor Housing, The New Alexandria Bojong Gede Bogor Housing, Cordova Green Living Cikarang Bekasi Housing, Hagia Sophia Town House Bandung Housing, West Java, and Pesona Darusalam Lampung Housing.

"The number of victims is approximately 270 people and the money that has entered this perpetrator is Rp23 billion," said Gatot.

Unfortunately the money that had been transferred was not used to build the promised sharia housing complex. As a result to date, the promised housing has not been built.

"It was used from the inspection by the DP for land acquisition. Land clearing, the permit arrangement for the commission for freelance marketing, the salary for the employees for making sample houses and so on," said Gatot.

From the hands of the suspects, the police confiscated a number of pieces of evidence including sales brochures, proof of payment of the victims, and savings books.

The suspects charged under Article 378 KUHP and / or Article 372 KUHP and / or Article 137 Jo Article 154, Article 138 Jo Article 45 Jo Article 55, Article 139 Jo Article 156, Article 145 Jo Article 162 Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 1 of 2011 concerning Housing and or Articles 3, 4 and 5 of Law Number 8 of 2010 concerning the Crime of Money Laundering. The threat of punishment is up to 20 years in prison.