Anti-Money Laundering Agency Investigates Suspicious Transfer to MUI Gunman’s Bank Account
Jakarta. The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center, or PPATK, is investigating the transfers of hundreds of millions of rupiah to the bank account belonging to Mustopa, who died on Tuesday after he fired an airsoft gun at the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) building in Jakarta.
Police initially suggested that the incident isn’t related to terrorism, arguing that the 60-year-old attacker had a mental problem history with no ties to any radical group.
But allegations of suspicious bank transfers, first reported by Jakarta Globe’s sister publication Beritasatu, may lead to new details about Mustopa and dismiss police conclusion that the incident was a lone wolf act.
“We are currently analyzing [the bank transfer],” PPATK Head Ivan Yustiavandana said on Thursday.
A PPATK staffer said earlier Mustopa’s bank account had received at least Rp 800 million since 2021. He opened the account at a branch of state-owned bank BRI in Teluk Betung in the province of Lampung in March 2020.
Beritasatu reported on Wednesday that Mustopa received incoming funds valued at Rp 200 million and Rp 100 million last December 2022.
The most recent incoming fund transfer was on January 16 worth Rp 31 million. The news website posted a copy of Mustopa’s bank book in the report.
A witness of the incident said that Mustopa has repeatedly asked to meet MUI Chairman Miftachul Akhyar in person. He fired an airsoft gun that smashed the glass door into pieces and injured two persons at the MUI building when his request was again denied by the receptionist and security guards.
He was pronounced dead at a nearby medical facility following a physical altercation with a security guard at the MUI building.
Anti-terror activist Ken Setiawan alleged that Mustopa was part of the Islamic State of Indonesia (NII) movement, whose leader Hasan Baraja is being detained by the Jakarta Police.
The NII, whose stronghold is in Lampung, has long been designated as a banned terror group but it continues to operate under the new name Khilafatul Muslimin (Muslim Caliphate).
“Despite the different name, Khilafatul Muslimin is basically the NII. The attack in the MUI building coincided with the council’s announcement of its investigation result confirming the link between the NII and Al-Zaytun Islamic boarding school,” Ken said.
"The MUI has been very critical of Khilafatul Muslimin so the perpetrator demanded justice from the Jakarta Police chief and the MUI to release Hasan Baraja. He decided to attack the MUI after his demand was not met," Ken added.
To add context, Mustopa had left a written note saying that he wanted to meet the Jakarta Police chief and the MUI chairman “to seek justice”.
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