38 Kulon Progo Residents Failed To Umrah, Rp253 Million Ongos Departed By The Congregation's Coordinator

Umrah illustration (ANTARA)

KULON PROGO - Embezzled IDR 253 million, 38 prospective pilgrims from Kulon Progo failed to leave for Umrah. The police have also detained a suspect with the initials T who works as the coordinator or collector of the congregation.

Kulon Progo Police Chief AKBP Muharomah Fajarini said that it started when the police received a report of neglect of Umrah pilgrims at Yogyakarta International Airport with the initials T, a resident of Bantul Regency.

"His party received information that 38 prospective Umrah pilgrims failed to go to the airport in Malaysia," Fajarini said as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, March 21.

Furthermore, the police coordinated with the Kulon Progo Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) Office. Then the Kulon Progo Ministry of Religion reported to the DIY Ministry of Religion.

Furthermore, 38 failed pilgrims were directed to rest temporarily because there were no direct flights to Malaysia.

He said his party together with the Kulon Progo Ministry of Religion communicated with travel parties who dispatched pilgrims. From this communication, it was found that the Umrah bureau did not send pilgrims because the collectors did not deposit the money handed over from prospective Umrah pilgrims to the travel.

According to him, the money that was handed over from the collector was Rp. 836 million, but only Rp. 659 million was handed over to the travel agent, so there was still a shortage of Rp. 253 million.

"As much as Rp253 million was embezzled by perpetrator T on the grounds that it was used for personal gain. Currently, T is being held at the Kulon Progo Police Detention Center," he said.

Furthermore, based on the results of mediation with the travel, Ministry of Religion, and the police, it was agreed that travel would dispatch 38 prospective Umrah pilgrims after Lebaran 2023.

Then, on Monday, the travel returned 38 prospective Umrah pilgrims who failed to go to their respective homes in Central Java.

"Later, they will depart after Eid 2023 or the month of Syawal," he said.

Fajarini appealed to people who register themselves as prospective Umrah pilgrims in the Kulon Progo area to communicate directly with the travel or Umrah service bureau.

"Don't believe people who claim to be intermediaries. Immediately ask travel or direct agents about the readiness of agents to dispatch Umrah," he said.

Fajarini said the agent who will dispatch 38 Umrah pilgrims was officially registered with the Ministry of Religion. "The naughty ones are the Umrah funders, while the prospective Umrah pilgrims have handed over the Umrah fee to the collectors. However, the collectors embezzled the funds amounting to Rp253 million for the sake of the prime minister," he said.

"We only urge you to check directly with the travel bureau, don't trust the collectors," he said.