Charity Box Mode, The Source Of Terrorist Funds For The Jamaah Islamiyah Network

Head of the Public Relations Division of the National Police Public Relations Division Kombes Ahmad Ramadhan (Photo: humas.polri.go.id)

JAKARTA - Densus 88 Anti-terror massively arrested suspected terrorists in various regions in Indonesia. In just three days, a total of 48 suspected terrorists were arrested. They are a network of Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) and Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD).

"Based on data compiled from Thursday 12 August to Sunday 15 August 2021, Densus 88 managed to arrest 48 suspected terrorists," said Head of the Public Relations Division of the National Police Public Relations Division Kombes Ahmad Ramadhan to reporters, Monday, August 16.

The majority of the suspected terrorists arrested were from the JI network with a total of 45 people. Meanwhile, the rest are members of the JAD network.

Especially for the 3 JAD terrorist suspects, said Ramadhan, they are members of a group on social media. However, his role is still being explored.

"JAD's social media network has 3 suspects," said Ramadhan.

Then, referring to the data, dozens of suspected terrorists were arrested in various areas, including North Sumatra, Jambi, Lampung, Banten, West Java, Central Java, East Java, South Sulawesi, Maluku, West Kalimantan, and social media networks.

"(Arrests) in 11 regions of Indonesia," said Ramadhan.

Charity Box Mode

In addition to arresting dozens of suspected terrorists, Densus 88 Anti-terrorism revealed that there was a mode of collecting funds from the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist network. They use a charity box.

The modus operandi was revealed when the Anti-terror Detachment 88 raided the Syam Organizer Secretariat office located in the Soreang area, Bandung, West Java. Where, at that location were found 1,540 charity boxes.

From the results of the examination, Syam Organizer is a charitable foundation belonging to the Jamaah Islamiyah network.

"The purpose of establishing the Syam Organizer is to raise funds with the aim of attracting public sympathy through humanitarian programs," said Ramadhan.

"In order to avoid suspicion from the authorities, the third one can move freely in raising funds so that they can get maximum funds," Ramadhan continued.

In addition, the funds raised are not used for charity. Instead, they use it to improve the economy of members of suspected terrorists.

"Improving the economy of JI members in the field of tajhiz and to increase infaq funds for the sustainability of the banned JI organization," said Head of the Ramadhan Division.

Then, the main suspect with this mode initials RH. He is the chairman or person in charge of the program.

The suspect RH was also known to agree with other terrorist suspects who had been arrested with the initials AYR and US.

In addition, Ramadhan also mentioned that the JI network often raises funds by taking advantage of international issues such as Palestine. They seem to want to send aid to Palestinians affected by the war.

"The first form of fundraising for Syam Organizer or SO is water for same by dropping clean water to Palestine and having 3 water wells in Syria," said Ramadhan.

"Then safe children for Syam in Syria and Palestine, then building houses in Syria, then sacrifices caring for Sham, Ramadhan caring for Syam, Syam bred factory, emergency relief, Sham productive assistance," said Ramadhan.

Deposit Pattern

On the other hand, the Police also revealed the pattern of deposits. The Syam Organizer deposited the funds collected with the fundraising mode to Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) through the central treasurer.

"The regional Syam Organizer deposited funds to the central treasurer of the central Syam Organizer," said Ramadhan.

Treasurer of Syam Central organizer with initials DR. He had been previously arrested by Densus 88 Anti-terror.

Then, the money that has been collected by DR will be divided into two. Part of it will be kept as Syam Organizer's operational funds and the rest will be given to Jamaah Islamiyah.

"The first part for the JI organization is put in a safe that has been stored at the Jogja head office and the part for operations is stored in the Syam Organizer account," said Ramadhan.

Not only that, deposits for Jamaah Islamiyah also come from the salaries of members of the Syam Organizer. Their salaries were cut by a few percent.

"By deducting from the salaries of its members and chairman members to be included or deposited with JI," said Ramadhan.

In addition, based on the investigation, the flow of funds from the Syam Organizer to Jamaah Islamiyah was used to send someone with the initials F to Syria from 2013 to 2017.

"Sham Organizer dispatched members to Syria, including F who had been arrested," said Ramadhan.