Police still searching for cult leader's money

The Jakarta Post/October 11, 2016

By Callistasia Anggun Wijaya

The National Police are still searching for money saved by infamous cult leader Dimas Kanjeng Taat Pribadi as part of an ongoing investigation into fraud and money laundering charges, a spokesman said on Tuesday.

Investigators from the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) have so far found only Rp 4 million (US$307) in cash at the headquarters of his ritual group Padepokan in Probolinggo, East Java, National Police spokesman Insp. Gen Boy Rafli Amar said.

"We still investigate where Dimas stored his money. We have received information about the place he put his money, but we can't reveal it now," he told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

The amount of money found at the Padepokan was very small considering his claim of being able to “clone” money until it reached billions of rupiah. The investigation into the whereabouts of the money began from a viral video on social media which showed Dimas with stacks of money at his residence.

Police named Dimas a suspect for the murder of two of his followers and later on for fraud and money laundering. More than 20,000 people had reportedly become his followers of the man with the supposed mystical ability to multiply banknotes.

Police believe Dimas entrusted the counterfeit money to some members of his group, Boy said. The investigation will also involve the Central Bank and police's forensic laboratory to check on the originality of his money, he added. His ritual group is also under investigation by Indonesian Ulema Council to see whether or not his teachings were in accordance with Islamic law, Boy added.