Aceh Police: Umrah FraudSters Become DPO, Flee To Malaysia

Evidence of alleged fraud of umrah pilgrims in Mapolda Aceh, Banda Aceh (Photo: Antara Aceh/M Haris SA)

JAKARTA - The Directorate of Public Criminal Investigation of Aceh Police said suspected perpetrators of umrah pilgrim fraud who were on the search list of people (DPO) fled abroad.

"The person in question has the initials R and has been designated as a suspect. However, the information is that R fled to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia," said Deputy Director of Public Criminal Investigation of Aceh Police AKBP Wahyu Kuncoro, in Banda Aceh, reported by Antara, Monday, May 10.

AKBP Wahyu Kuncoro said it had coordinated with the Police International Relations Division to track the DPO's presence abroad.

"This includes coordinating with the Police attaché in Kuala Lumpur and Interpol to repatriate the person concerned to Indonesia," said AKBP Wahyu Kuncoro

Investigators of the Directorate of Public Criminal Investigation of Aceh Police have named the woman with the initials R as a suspect in the alleged fraud of umrah pilgrims. He was called to the investigators, but did not comply.

"Summons R is also at the direction of the prosecutor. In his instructions, the prosecutor recommended R be designated as a suspect, because he allegedly participated in receiving money from umrah pilgrims," said AKBP Wahyu Kuncoro.

R is the Treasurer of PT Elhanif Tour and Travel. The travel agency company has also been reported to the Aceh Police by a number of people who failed to go umrah to Saudi Arabia.

Previously, investigators of the Directorate of Public Criminal Investigation of Aceh Police determined the owner of the company with the initials AH as a suspect in the fraud of umrah pilgrims.

AH reportedly his agent in Central Aceh, because until the promised time did not send umrah pilgrims to the Holy Land, Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

Umrah costs paid range from Rp17 million to Rp23 million, so the total reaches Rp891 million.

They are scheduled to leave for Saudi Arabia in December 2019. However, until 2020 they will not be sent to the Holy Land to perform umrah.