National Police assisting in Al Zaytun alms misuse investigation

Jakarta, Indonesianpost.com – The National Police is assisting the Indramayu Police Department in investigating the alleged misuse of zakat (alms) by the manager of Al Zaytun Boarding School, Panji Gumilang.

“The case is being investigated by the Indramayu Police Department, the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency is (stepping in) for assistance,” the head of the public information bureau of the National Police’s public relations division, Brigadier General Ahmad Ramadhan, said here on Wednesday.

Read more: Search for missing Hajj pilgrim expanded to Medina: PPIH

On July 17, the Indramayu Suing Forum (FIM) reported Gumilang to the police alleging misuse of alms.

The entity also submitted two video clips as evidence. The first clip was of a national media news report by a journalist, and the second clip was from an event on notes of democracy, which was broadcast by a national television network, which also showed one of the past important members of Al Zaytun, LS.

Ramadhan said that the report was followed up by the police in coordination with the Religious Affairs Ministry’s Directorate of Madrasa’s Institutional Facility and Students Curriculum (KSKK).

Afterward, a request was made to the Center for Financial Transactions Analysis and Report (PPATK) for soft copies of certain transactions made by three persons, he added.

“The bank accounts in question were under the names of Mahad Al Zaytun, as many as three bank accounts; Panji Gumilang, as many as two bank accounts; and J, one bank account,” he informed.

Read more: Indonesia asks G20 to collaborate on addressing global issues

He further said that the investigation by Indramayu Police, which was conducted in collaboration with the Criminal Investigation Agency’s Directorate for Special Economic Crimes and the Directorate for General Crimes, indicated that some persons were allegedly involved in the crime reported by FIM.

They included AS, who collected donations for a children’s education foundation affiliated with Gumilang, and IS, one of Al Zaytun’s founders.​​​​​​​

Ramadhan disclosed that police have yet to issue an investigation report on IS.

​​​​​​​He also said that the Directorate for Special Economic Crimes has issued an investigation report on LS, a former member of the Indonesian Islamic State (NII).

The investigators followed up the report with a meeting with the Religious Affairs Ministry and the Regional Office on school operational funding. They are also questioning AS with the ministry’s Directorate General for Islamic Community regarding zakat.

Read more: Tommy Soeharto’s Humpuss Maritim to Hold IPO

Currently, the Indramayu Police Department is coordinating with West Java’s special crime unit to gather further evidence, he said.

The National Police is also currently investigating the allegations of blasphemy and money laundering against Gumilang, he added.