Humanitarian Group ACT Accused of Embezzling Public Funds
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4 July 2022 13:08 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Philanthropy organization Aksi Cepat Tanggap or ACT is currently embroiled in controversy after one of its higherups and founder, Ahyuddin, resigned from his position in January of 2022 over allegations of embezzling public donations, which the organization receives billions of rupiah annually.
ACT is considered one of the largest philanthropy groups that manage public funds for humanitarian efforts as they managed to collect Rp500 billion from 2018 up to 2020. In comparison, two similar organizations based in Indonesia Dompet Dhuafa and Rumah Zakat barely gathered half of that during the same period.
Ahyudin reportedly transferred Rp11 billion to his younger sibling Rosman. The wired money was collected from a number of donors for the construction of the Dermawan Mosque and the second construction phase for an Islamic boarding school in Tasikmalaya, West Java, which is Ahyudin’s hometown.
The extensive Tempo Magazine report reported that ACT had paid Ahyudin a monthly salary reaching Rp250 million, which yet includes a plethora of facilities such as luxury vehicles from a Toyota Alphard up to a Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.
Ahyudin is also alleged to have used the donations to purchase a full-furnished house with a staggering value. Other ACT higherups have also reportedly received restaurant-standard meal facilities on a daily basis that can be read here titled “Act of Betrayal.”
Naturally, Ahyudin strongly denies all of the allegations. "If I don't have money, I am entitled to borrow it from the institution," he said in an interview with Tempo Magazine. “Currently I am entangled in house installments, car payments, and even children's school fees. [It wouldn’t be logical] If I run away with the institution's money, where does the logic come from?”
He also stated that he was forced to resign from ACT and admitted that he was slandered by using institutional funds for his personal interests. He even dared to face this matter in legal recourse.
"If the allegations are true, I should have reported it to law enforcement," he said.
TEMPO MAGAZINE
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