Eko Sulistyo
The Jakarta Metropolitan Police, known as Polda Metro Jaya, have intensified their investigation into the alleged fraudulent activities of PT Khazanah Tamma Internasional, operating under the brand Hanania Group. The investigation centers on allegations of fraud and the embezzlement of funds intended for Umrah pilgrimages. Recent developments have brought several high-profile social media influencers into the spotlight, as investigators look into whether pilgrim funds were misappropriated to pay for expensive celebrity endorsements and marketing campaigns rather than securing travel arrangements for the faithful.
Director of General Criminal Investigation at Polda Metro Jaya, Senior Commissioner (Kombes Pol) Iman Imanuddin, provided a comprehensive update during a press conference held on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. He revealed that the police are currently conducting a deep dive into the financial flows of the company. Preliminary findings suggest a significant portion of the capital collected from prospective pilgrims was diverted into various operational and promotional expenses, leaving the company unable to fulfill its primary obligation of transporting clients to the Holy Land.
The Role of Influencer Marketing in the Hanania Group Case
A primary focus of the current phase of the investigation is the "marketing" expenditure of Hanania Group. According to Kombes Pol Iman, the company heavily relied on the digital reach of social media personalities to build a facade of credibility and prestige. By employing popular influencers, the agency was able to attract thousands of prospective pilgrims who trusted the recommendations of their favorite online figures.
"The funds managed by the company were allegedly used for interests outside the actual Umrah travel of the pilgrims," Kombes Pol Iman stated. "A portion was used to pay influencers as part of a strategic marketing effort to entice more customers. We are currently tracing exactly how much was spent on these endorsements and whether the influencers were aware of the company’s financial instability."
The police have signaled their intent to summon several prominent "selebgrams" (Instagram celebrities) for questioning. The objective is to determine the nature of their contracts with PT Khazanah Tamma Internasional and whether they received payments derived directly from the embezzled funds. This move highlights a growing legal scrutiny over the accountability of influencers who promote financial or religious services that later turn out to be fraudulent.
Digital Footprints and the 2024 Promotional Campaign
The investigation gained significant public traction after digital archives of the agency’s promotional videos resurfaced. On the official Instagram account @hananiagroup.id, several videos from 2024 show a roster of Indonesia’s most influential digital creators promoting various Umrah packages. Among the names that have surfaced in connection with these promotions is the popular content creator Keanu Agl.
The presence of these influencers in the company’s marketing material served as a powerful endorsement. In the context of religious tourism in Indonesia, celebrity participation often acts as a "seal of approval," leading many middle-class families to invest their life savings into travel packages. Investigators are now looking at the timeline of these promotions to see if the company was already experiencing financial deficits while continuing to recruit new pilgrims through high-budget advertising.
Keanu Agl and the Narrative of the Holy Pilgrimage
Long before the current legal troubles of Hanania Group became public, Keanu Agl was one of the most visible faces associated with the brand. In 2024, he participated in an Umrah trip organized by the agency alongside a group of high-profile friends, including Sarah Gibson, Awkarin, Dara Arafah, and the late Lula Lahfah.
In various media appearances, Keanu Agl had spoken glowingly of his experience. During an interview on the C8 Podcast YouTube channel, he described the journey as a profound spiritual milestone. "MasyaAllah, it was so exciting," Keanu remarked when reflecting on his time in the Holy Land. He emphasized the importance of performing the pilgrimage with friends who shared the same spiritual goals, noting that they were all "one voice" in their dedication to prayer and worship.
In a separate conversation with television presenter Ivan Gunawan, Keanu expressed a deep yearning to return to Mecca and Medina. He described the emotional impact of seeing thousands of people united in dhikr (remembrance of God). "I want to go back; I miss the atmosphere and the goosebumps you get when you see so many people reciting the same things. It made me realize how many people believe in this religion, and it made me cry," he explained.
While Keanu’s accounts focused on the spiritual benefits of the trip, the current investigation paints a darker picture of the logistical and financial framework that facilitated such high-profile journeys. Investigators are looking into whether these "celebrity trips" were essentially subsidized by the deposits of ordinary pilgrims who were subsequently never sent to Saudi Arabia.
A History of Umrah Fraud in Indonesia
The Hanania Group case is the latest in a series of scandals that have plagued the Indonesian Umrah travel industry over the last decade. To understand the gravity of the current investigation, it is necessary to look at the broader context of religious travel fraud in the country.
- The First Travel Scandal (2017): This remains the most notorious case, where the agency’s owners embezzled over IDR 900 billion from more than 60,000 pilgrims. Like Hanania Group, First Travel used aggressive marketing and celebrity endorsements (including Syahrini) to build a brand of luxury and reliability.
- The Abu Tour Case (2018): Shortly after First Travel, Abu Tour collapsed after failing to depart 86,000 pilgrims, with total losses exceeding IDR 1.2 trillion. The funds were found to have been used for personal investments and lifestyle expenses of the owners.
- The SBL (Solusi Balad Lumampah) Case: Another major agency that used a Ponzi-like scheme to fund its operations, leading to the disappointment of thousands of prospective travelers.
The recurring nature of these crimes has led to calls for stricter oversight by the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag). Current regulations require travel agencies to maintain a minimum deposit and adhere to a "Referential Price" (Harga Referensi) to prevent "predatory pricing" that often indicates a Ponzi scheme. Hanania Group is now being scrutinized to see if it bypassed these regulatory safeguards.
Investigative Process and Potential Legal Charges
Polda Metro Jaya’s investigation is proceeding on two main fronts: the criminal fraud charges and the Money Laundering (TPPU) aspect. By applying Money Laundering statutes, the police can track the flow of funds to third parties, including marketing agencies and influencers.
Kombes Pol Iman Imanuddin noted that the "Marketing" defense—the idea that the money was spent legitimately on business growth—will be tested against the reality of the company’s solvency. If the company continued to take money from new pilgrims to pay off old debts or to fund lavish marketing while knowing they could not fulfill the contracts, it constitutes a "systemic fraud."
The influencers involved may face questioning regarding "passive" involvement. Under Indonesian law, if a party receives funds that they should reasonably suspect come from a crime, they can be subjected to legal scrutiny. However, if they can prove that the transaction was a standard professional service agreement and they were unaware of the fraud, they are typically treated as witnesses rather than suspects.
The Impact on Victims
While the headlines focus on the celebrities and the police press conferences, the true victims are the thousands of ordinary Indonesians who have lost their money. For many, Umrah is a once-in-a-lifetime journey that requires years of saving.
Data from victim advocacy groups suggest that the Hanania Group case involves a wide demographic, from elderly couples in rural areas to young professionals in urban centers. Many victims reported that they were repeatedly promised departure dates, only to have them postponed due to "administrative issues" or "visa delays"—tactics commonly used by failing travel agencies to buy time.
The psychological toll on victims is immense. Beyond the financial loss, there is a sense of spiritual betrayal. "We trusted them because we saw them on TV and social media," said one prospective pilgrim who had paid in full for a 2025 departure. "To find out our money might have gone to pay for a celebrity’s vacation instead of our own pilgrimage is heartbreaking."
Broader Implications for the Influencer Industry
The Hanania Group scandal serves as a cautionary tale for the burgeoning influencer marketing industry in Indonesia. It raises critical questions about "due diligence." Should an influencer be responsible for vetting the financial health of a travel agency before promoting it to millions of followers?
Legal experts suggest that this case might lead to new guidelines for digital endorsements. In some jurisdictions, influencers are required to clearly disclose paid partnerships and are held to a standard of truth in advertising. In Indonesia, the Hanania Group investigation could be a catalyst for the Indonesian Consumer Protection Foundation (YLKI) and the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (Kominfo) to tighten regulations on the promotion of regulated services like Hajj and Umrah travel.
Conclusion and Future Outlook
As of June 3, 2026, the investigation into PT Khazanah Tamma Internasional remains active. The police are expected to begin summoning the first round of influencers in the coming weeks. The outcome of this case will likely determine the future of how Umrah agencies are allowed to market their services and the level of accountability expected from those who promote them.
For the public, the message from Polda Metro Jaya is clear: be wary of offers that seem too good to be true, regardless of who is promoting them. The "merinding" (goosebumps) and emotional spiritual experiences shared by influencers like Keanu Agl are a testament to the beauty of the pilgrimage itself, but they are not a guarantee of the integrity of the travel agency facilitating the trip.
As the legal process unfolds, the priority for authorities remains the recovery of assets to potentially compensate the victims, though historical precedents in such cases suggest that full restitution is often difficult to achieve once funds have been dissipated into marketing and operational costs. The Hanania Group case stands as a stark reminder of the need for transparency, rigorous regulation, and consumer vigilance in the sacred business of religious travel.
