Indonesia Investigates Hajj Dam Fraud, Government Guarantees Pilgrim Protection
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- Indonesian authorities are investigating a Rp1.4 billion fraud involving dam payments, while assuring pilgrims that their Hajj rituals remain valid.
- The case involves a Hajj guidance group accused of overcharging pilgrims and failing to process payments through the official Adahi system.
- The government has pledged firm legal action and broader reforms to improve transparency and accountability in Hajj management.
Jakarta – Minister of Hajj and Umrah (Menhaj) Mochamad Irfan Yusuf has assured Indonesian pilgrims that they need not worry about the ongoing investigation into an alleged Rp 1.4 billion fraud case involving dam (ritual sacrifice) payments, emphasizing that the validity of their Hajj rituals remains unaffected.
“Regarding dam, God willing, pilgrims should not be concerned. Everything has been properly handled,” Irfan, widely known as Gus Irfan, said upon welcoming members of the Musyrif Diny team at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang on Tuesday.
He explained that the obligations related to dam had been fulfilled through Adahi, the official institution appointed by the Saudi Arabian government to manage sacrificial animal services for pilgrims.
“Some of the dam payments have already been processed through Adahi, so those are settled,” he added.
The reassurance follows the exposure of a suspected fraud case amounting to approximately Rp 1.4 billion, allegedly involving malpractice in badal hajj services and dam payments by a Hajj and Umrah Guidance Group (KBIHU) based in West Java.
Earlier, Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak revealed that the case came to light after an investigation conducted by the Indonesian Hajj Organizing Committee (PPIH) Protection Team in coordination with the Indonesian Consulate General in Saudi Arabia.
Dahnil explained that dam payments are mandatory and must be made through Adahi. However, in the ongoing case, pilgrims were charged 720 Saudi riyals, while only part of the funds was actually used for official payments.
“Dam is a mandatory obligation that must be paid through Adahi. In this case, pilgrims were charged 720 riyals, but the funds were not fully transferred to Adahi. Instead, the organizers purchased animals through local residents at around 400 riyals and kept the remaining margin,” Dahnil said.
The alleged misconduct surfaced after several pilgrims reported that they did not receive official receipts from Adahi as proof of payment.
“A significant number of pilgrims were affected. The case began with complaints from pilgrims who did not receive official receipts from Adahi,” he said.
The ministry has pledged firm action against those found responsible. Sanctions may include revocation of operational permits and criminal prosecution in coordination with law enforcement authorities.
“We will ensure that the KBIHU involved faces administrative sanctions, including license revocation, and we will pursue criminal charges. Since the locus of the case is in Saudi Arabia, we will coordinate with law enforcement both there and in Indonesia,” Dahnil stressed.
The government also plans to disclose the identity of the KBIHU under investigation once the inquiry is completed. According to Dahnil, broader reforms in Hajj governance are necessary to prevent similar practices from recurring.
“There are systemic issues within the Hajj sector that have long been entrenched. We need KBIHU institutions that are honest and committed to guiding pilgrims, not treating them as commodities,” he said.
He added that while the government continues to support professional and trustworthy KBIHU organizations, it will take firm action against individuals or groups that exploit pilgrims for personal gain.
“We must not allow the actions of a few to damage the reputation of KBIHU institutions that genuinely serve the community,” he said.
Indonesianpost.com | Republika
