Ahead of Republic of Indonesia’s 78th Independence Day, the Criminal Investigation Unit Will Hold a Case on Panji Gumilang’s Money Laundering

Karo Penmas, Police Public Relations Division, Brigadier General Ahmad Ramadhan. (Rizky A-VOI)

JAKARTA - The Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police (Bareskrim Polri) is scheduled to hold a case in the alleged Money Laundering (TPPU) case involving the leader of the Al Zaytun Islamic Boarding School (Ponpes), Panji Gumilang.

The title of the case, which is planned to take place on D-1 of the Republic of Indonesia's 78th independence day or on August 16 to be precise, aims to determine whether or not the ML case can be upgraded to the investigation stage.

"The follow-up plan is to hold a case on Wednesday, August 16," said the Head of Public Information Bureau (Karo Penmas), the Public Relations Division of the National Police, Brigadier General Ahmad Ramadhan, to reporters, Monday, August 14.

In preparation for the case title, the investigation team will invite internal and external Polri parties.

Generally, internal parties who are involved in the process of filing cases are, the Propam Division, Irwasum, the Legal Division, and the Wasidik Bureau. Meanwhile, externally, such as the National Police Commission (Kompolnas).

"Sending invitations to the internal and external parties of the National Police," he said.

In handling this case, investigators have asked for statements from 21 witnesses out of 40 people who are considered to have known about the alleged ML.

Of the 21 witnesses, 16 of them were parties who sent funds to accounts related to Panji Gumilang. Then 5 other people from the foundation.

"Conducting interviews with 2 YPI administrators which will be held today, Monday, August 14, 2023 via online," Ramadhan said.

Previously, the Director of Special Economic Crimes at Bareskrim Polri Brigadier General Whisnu Hermawan revealed that his party found conformity with the results of the financial transaction analysis report from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) regarding the alleged crime of money laundering (TPPU) by Panji Gumilang.

This conformity, he said, was obtained from the results of Panji Gumilang's statement after an examination was carried out on Monday, August 7. He admitted that all transactions related to finance at the Indonesian Islamic Boarding School Foundation (YPI) had to be based on orders from Panji Gumilang.

"This means that he (Panji Gumilang) conveyed that what was conveyed by PPATK friends was appropriate, that APG's (Panji Gumilang) personal account was used to carry out operations for the foundation," said Whisnu.