TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Vice President Jusuf Kalla said that the Umrah travel agent First Travel is obligated to compensate the victims of the company`s fraud. The government does not have the obligation to compensate the victims.
“The party that received the [victims'] money should pay the compensation,” said Jusuf Kalla on Tuesday, August 22.
Read: Police Work with PPATK to Trace First Travel Umrah Scam Funds
Kalla explained that Umrah travel agents are not strictly regulated as Hajj travel agents. It is basically just like any other privately owned travel agents that handle normal overseas travel. Therefore, he argues that it is the responsibility of the travel bureau whenever there is a problem with its customers.
Especially, considering that First Travel is an Umrah travel agent that uses the Ponzi scheme where the first batch of people that pay for their trip can pay it under a cheaper price because it is funded by later submissions that are used as a cash-flow.
“This is the risk [of such business], why would you trust cheap services,” said Jusuf Kalla. To avoid similar cases happening in the future, the government will create a minimum cost policy for travel agents handling Umrah pilgrimage.
Previously, a number of First Travel's victims asked for the government to help the refunding process. Police have named three suspects at the money laundry and fraud case. They are the owner of First Travel, namely Andika Surachman and his wife, Anniesa Devitasari Hasibuan, and Anniesa's sister, Kiki Hasibuan.
AMIRULLAH SUHADA
