DistantNews
Support us
🇮🇩 Indonesia /Crime & Justice

Jakarta police seize $7,300 from influencers in umrah travel scam

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Jakarta police seized Rp 110 million voluntarily returned by social media influencers in an umrah travel scam case.
  • Sixteen influencers who collaborated with Hanania Group are being investigated, with some returning their fees.
  • The investigation includes money laundering allegations, with three company accounts blocked and asset seizures underway.

Jakarta police have seized Rp 110 million (approximately $7,300 USD) in cash, voluntarily returned by several social media influencers involved with the fraudulent umrah travel agency, PT Khasanah Tamah Internasional, also known as Hanania Group.

What we have gathered is a total of Rp110 million in fees returned by several influencers to investigators, and it has been seized by investigators to serve as evidence.

— Commissioner AndaruHead of the Public Information Sub-division of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, commenting on the seized funds.

Investigators have questioned 16 influencers who previously partnered with Hanania Group for endorsements. Some of these individuals chose to return the fees they received from the agency to the police. "What we have gathered is a total of Rp110 million in fees returned by several influencers to investigators, and it has been seized by investigators to serve as evidence," stated Commissioner Andaru, Head of the Public Information Sub-division of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police.

Now investigators have blocked three company accounts under the name Khasanah Tamah Internasional.

— Commissioner AndaruDescribing actions taken regarding financial accounts linked to the travel agency.

Among those questioned was Karin Novilda, also known as Awkarin, who reportedly returned Rp 10 million. To date, investigators have interviewed 124 witnesses, including victims, employees, vendors, celebrities, and legal representatives. The investigation is also looking into alleged money laundering activities, leading to the blocking of three corporate bank accounts associated with Hanania Group and its director.

There are several assets that we have already seized. There are also several assets that we have secured in several regions.

— Commissioner General Iman ImanuddinDirector of General Criminal Investigation for the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, detailing asset seizures.

Authorities have also seized various assets belonging to Hanania Group, including movable and immovable properties like land, buildings, and vehicles. Director of General Criminal Investigation for the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Commissioner General Iman Imanuddin, expressed hope that these seizures would help compensate the victims or even facilitate their pilgrimage. The case began after individuals were lured by promotional umrah packages offered by Hanania Group, with prices ranging from Rp 29 million to Rp 46 million, promising various facilities and trips to multiple countries.

Or even our hope can be one of the efforts to send the victims back.

— Commissioner General Iman ImanuddinExpressing the goal of asset seizures in relation to compensating victims.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog