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What about our money?: First Travel scam victims lament over seized assets given to state
In an unexpected turn, the Supreme Court had recently announced that it had issued a verdict stating that First Travel’s assets were subject to confiscation by the state.
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Seeking justice: Victims of First Travel's 'umrah' travel scam attend a hearing for the case at the Depok District Court in West Java. (Tribunnews.com/Fransiskus Adhiyuda Prasetia )
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side from it becoming a trend among those who can afford it, going on the umrah (minor haj) is a priority for some Muslims who aim to boost their spiritual virtues. Visiting Mecca, Saudi Arabia for the minor haj has been the dream of Siti Nurhasanah, who resides in Depok, West Java.
To realize it, the 50-year-old woman booked a travel package for Rp 15 million (US$ 1,064) with First Travel in 2015, hoping that she would get a chance to depart the following year. She also booked a spot for her daughter and mother-in-law for the same amount not long after.
Two years later, the company asked her for another Rp 2.5 million per person, claiming that the money was to adjust ticket fares. Nur borrowed money from relatives to pay the amount requested.
Two days after making payment, her happiness turned into disappointment after learning that First Travel had been suspected of scamming its customers.
The scam, which came to light in 2017, resulted in the Depok District Court in West Java sentencing the owners of First Travel, husband and wife Andika Surachman and Anniesa Hasibuan, to 20 and 18 years’ imprisonment, respectively, for fraud and money laundering in late May that year. The same court also sentenced First Travel manager Siti Nuraida Hasibuan, the sister of Anniesa, to 18 years in prison and fined her Rp 5 billion earlier that month.
As the company’s bosses had been sent to prison, questions remained among customers about the fate of the compensation they expected.
In an unexpected turn of events, the Supreme Court announced recently that it had issued a decision stating that First Travel’s assets were subject to confiscation by the state. The decision of a panel of judges led by presiding Judge Andi Samsan Nganro was made based on Article 39 of the Criminal Code (KUHP) and Article 46 of the Criminal Law Procedures Code (KUHAP)
