When Religious Donations Go Astray

A working meeting at the House of Representatives' (DPR) Law Commission two weeks ago put National Police Chief Tito Karnavian on the defense. For seven hours in front of a dozen-or-so commission members, he explained developments in the cases handled by the police since he took over the reins mid-July last year.

One of the cases that drew the attention of commission members was the investigation of Bachtiar Nasir by the police special economic crimes division. Bachtiar, who is chairman of the National Movement to Safeguard the Rulings of the Indonesian Council of Ulama (GNPF MUI) was suspected to have laundered money meant for the Defend Islam rallies on November 4 and December 4 last year, using the Justice for All Foundation's (YKS) bank account. Some of the public donation was allegedly wired to a terrorist group in Syria. "Please explain it, sir," questioned Adies Kadir, from the Golkar party. "Is the suspected primary offence of Bachtiar Nasir money-laundering?" asked Arsul Sani from the United Development Party (PPP).