Authorities have uncovered a significant detail in the ongoing investigation into the extensive fraud perpetrated by Marwah Wedding Organizer (WO): one of the primary suspects, identified by her initials ER, is a repeat offender. It has been revealed that ER was previously imprisoned in 2021 for a similar fraud case in the West Java region, highlighting a history of deceptive practices.
Confirming this alarming revelation, AKBP Bayu Kurniawan, Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit at the East Jakarta Metro Police, stated that ER had served a sentence at Sukamiskin Prison in West Java. “Our investigation has confirmed that the suspect named ER is a recidivist involved in a similar criminal act in the West Java area,” Bayu explained during a press conference at the East Jakarta Metro Police headquarters on Monday, June 1.
In connection with the Marwah Catering WO scam, police also apprehended ER‘s husband, RM. Both individuals have now been officially designated as suspects in the case. The couple was successfully tracked down and arrested by police at a rented house located in the Cililin area of West Bandung Regency on Friday, May 29.
According to Bayu, the husband and wife duo were the orchestrators behind the entire operation. “They are a married couple because this Wedding Organizer has, so far, been controlled by them,” Bayu emphasized, detailing their joint involvement in the fraudulent scheme. The rented house in Cililin served as a hiding place for the perpetrators, despite their official WO office address being registered in East Jakarta.
Following widespread public attention and numerous reports circulating on social media, the two suspects reportedly attempted to evade capture. “After the recent widespread news on social media, both suspects indeed tried to flee to a secluded location and hide,” Bayu added, underscoring their desperate efforts to escape justice.
58 Couples Victimized, Losses Totaling Rp 2.6 Billion
To date, police investigations have identified a staggering 58 couples who fell victim to the Marwah WO fraud. The cumulative financial losses suffered by these victims have reached an estimated Rp 2.6 billion. Bayu cautioned that this figure might not be final, noting, “However, it is not impossible that there will be further additions.”
Both perpetrators now face severe legal consequences. They have been charged under Article 372 concerning embezzlement and Article 378 concerning fraud, as stipulated in Law No. 1 Year 2023 of the Indonesian Criminal Code. If convicted, ER and RM face a maximum prison sentence of four years, reflecting the gravity of their deceitful actions.
Summary
Authorities have identified ER, a key suspect in the Marwah Wedding Organizer fraud, as a repeat offender who was previously jailed in 2021 for similar crimes in West Java. Her husband, RM, was also arrested, and both are now suspects for orchestrating the extensive scam. The couple was apprehended in West Bandung Regency after attempting to evade capture following widespread public attention.
The Marwah WO fraud victimized 58 couples, resulting in cumulative financial losses estimated at Rp 2.6 billion, a figure that may still increase. ER and RM face charges under Articles 372 and 378 of the Indonesian Criminal Code, carrying a maximum sentence of four years in prison.