First Travel ordered to repay thousands of customers after massive fraud
A Jakarta court has ordered the owners of an embattled Indonesian travel agent to repay thousands of customers left out of pocket in an epic fraud scheme.
"We agree with the debt postponement petition status," said presiding judge John Tony Hutahuruk in ordering Andika Surachman, the president director of First Travel, his wife Anniesa Hasibuan and sister in law Siti Nuraidah Hasibuan to pay restitution.
However that seems unlikely as the total losses are an estimated US$63.59 million involving 58,682 First Travel customers who booked Umroh packages to the Middle East that never materialised.
The Religious Affairs Ministry revoked its license when the scale of the fraud became clear.
Investigators from the Indonesia National Police recently said it has seized seven properties and five cars owned by the accused.
"We also seized more than 14,000 pilgrims’ passports," said Brig. Gen. Herry Rudolf Nahak of the Criminal Investigation Department.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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