TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin agreed that seized assets of First Travel to be auctioned should not be given to the state coffer. He opined the assets must be returned to the scam victims.

“Yes, I think that’s the people’s money that was used by First Travel. And so when the assets were confiscated, it must be given back to the people,” said Ma'ruf at Vice Presidential Office in Central Jakarta, Wednesday, November 20.

However, Ma'ruf admitted that the return process would not be easy, and assets to be returned would not a-100-percent cover the victims’ losses, but he asserted the process must be executed.

“I presume there are many reports, and the data [of losses] exists,” the VP added.

With that data, Ma'ruf said the amount of the losses per victim could be estimated. The compensation could also be calculated based on the total value of the assets collected at the Depok High Prosecutor's Office.

Ma'ruf Amin further stated he entrusted the matter entirely to the authority and expected the return of the assets to the victims could be carried out fairly.

Previously, the advocate of First Travel scam victims, Luthfi Yazid, filed an objection letter after Depok High Prosecutor's Office chief Yudi Triadi made inappropriate statements that the victims should have just given up the money they had paid to the travel agent for the umrah prayer and handed it over to the state.

EGI ADYATAMA