Ridwan Kamil's family: "We surrender Mumtadz' fate to God"

Bandung (ANTARA) - West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil and kin surrendered the fate of Emmeril Kahn Mumtadz, who disappeared in Aare River, Bern, Switzerland, May 26, to God and are prepared for any eventuality, a family representative stated.

"The local authority said they have employed the search operation method specific to locate a dead body. Hence, Mr Kamil and Mrs Atalia (Kamil's spouse) have declared their willingness to let go of (the search for) Mumtadz and believe he has passed away due to drowning," Erwin Munurizaman, Kamil's elder brother, representing the family, stated here on Friday.

The family had consulted officials of West Java's Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) which, under the presumption that Mumtadz had passed away, recommended them to perform the funeral prayer for him to finalise his rights as a Muslim, he remarked.

"Hence, after consultation with the MUI, (we had) organised a Salat al-Gha'ib (absentee funeral prayer) for late Emmeril Kahn Mumtadz bin Mochammad Ridwan Kamil," he noted.

Muniruzaman also appealed to Mumtadz's acquaintances to forgive his mistakes and inform the family about his unresolved obligations.

"We appeal (to the acquaintances) to forgive the late (Mumtadz) for any errors he (may have) committed purposefully or not during his life. We also urged anyone with unresolved businesses and obligations with Mumtadz to inform the family," he remarked.

Meanwhile, Governor Kamil and his family returned to Indonesia on Thursday afternoon (June 2) to return to conducting his duties, according to a statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Switzerland.

“The process of monitoring the search operation, coordinating with the embassy, and communicating with the Swiss authority will be continued by Mumtadz’s uncle, Elpi Nazmuzaman, and family members, who have arrived in Bern on Wednesday (June 1)," according to the statement.

To date, the search operation still was futile despite search efforts centred on the Aare riverbank, safe river area, and other passages. Moreover, the local authority had employed land patrol, boat patrol, and drones to search for Mumtadz.