TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Criminal Investigation Unit of the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police is investigating suspected criminal activity in connection with a recent surge in non-procedural Hajj departures over the past two months. Police have questioned organizers believed to have facilitated the travel of 36 individuals suspected of attempting to perform the Hajj pilgrimage using work or Amil visas.
"We are still conducting an in-depth investigation to determine the relevant charges to bring against the organizers," said Commissioner Yandri Mono, head of the Criminal Investigation Unit at the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police, on Wednesday, May 7.
Investigators have questioned IA, 48, and NF, 40, who served as group leaders and organized the unauthorized Hajj departure. IA is the president director of PT NSCM, a company engaged in the event-organizing business. "Funds from the prospective pilgrims were deposited into the company’s account, which is not affiliated with any Umrah travel agency," Yandri said.
Yandri added that the police are coordinating closely with the Ministry of Religious Affairs in handling the case. Articles under consideration include Article 121 in conjunction with Article 114 and/or Article 125 in conjunction with Article 118A, as well as Article 19 of Law No. 8 of 2019 on the Organization of Hajj and Umrah. These have been amended by Article 125 in conjunction with Article 118A of Law No. 6 of 2023, which ratified Government Regulation in Lieu of Law No. 2 of 2022 on Job Creation.
"These offenses carry a maximum prison sentence of six years and a fine of up to Rp6 billion," Yandri stated.
Officers from the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police and Immigration Department intercepted the group, suspecting they intended to perform the Hajj using work or Amil visas. "The method is the same: they used transit flights," he explained.
The 36 individuals, comprising 34 prospective pilgrims and two group leaders, were passengers on SriLankan Airlines flight UL 356, bound for Jakarta-Colombo-Riyadh. They were scheduled to depart for the Holy Land from Soekarno-Hatta Airport on Monday, May 5, at around 15:00.
The group hailed from Tegal, Brebes, Lampung, Bengkulu, Palembang, Makassar, Medan, and Jakarta. Aged between 35 and 72, they each paid between Rp139 million and Rp175 million to IA and NF, who served as leaders and facilitators. "IA and NF did not inform the pilgrims that the visas being used were work visas," Yandri said.
IA and NF told investigators they had successfully sent a group the previous year. "This led the prospective pilgrims to trust that IA and NF had previously organized Hajj departures in 2024," Yandri noted.
Word of their past success spread informally, prompting many others to register with them. Payments amounting to hundreds of millions of rupiah per person were made through PT NSCM, which is owned by IA. "But that company operates as an event organizer, not a travel bureau," Yandri emphasized.
IA and NF claimed they were able to send dozens of pilgrims because of their experience. "Once in the Holy Land, they planned to process work permits or iqamah. With the iqamah in hand, the pilgrims would be free to remain there and even perform the Hajj," said Yandri.
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