MAJAPAHIT ‘ROYALS’ ARRESTED

Self-proclaimed ‘king’ and ‘queen’ solicited up to 3 million rupiah each from followers

ACOUPLE, who proclaimed to be the king and queen of the Majapahit Empire, were arrested on suspicion of fraud by the Central Java police.

The unmarried couple who were friends were held earlier this week after their declaration about the kingdom went viral, according to The Jakarta Post.

They claimed to be the “king and queen” of Keraton Agung Sejagat, which supposedly made them descendants of the Empire.

Central Java Police chief Inspector General Rycko Amelza Dahniel said the couple, identified as Totok Santoso Hadiningrat, 42, and Fanni Amanadia, 41, were rounded up with nine others and taken to Semarang for further investigations.

Police are probing deeper into their claim, including searching the building that served as the kingdom’s “palace” in Pogung Jurutengah village, Bayan district of Purworejo regency.

“We changed their status to suspects after finding evidence,” Rycko said on Wednesday.

He added that Totok and Fanni were allegedly seeking funds from people wanting to be their followers, asking for contributions of up to 3 million rupiah each.

Totok claimed that the Keraton

Agung Sejagat (world empire) had 425 followers.

They also claimed their destiny was to fulfil a promise made 500 years ago by the Majapahit Kingdom, which controlled much of maritime Southeast Asia during its peak in the 14th century, prior to its collapse in 1518.

They held a so-called Wilujengan Keraton Agung Sejagat ritual from Jan 10 to 12 to symbolise the

return of Sri Maharatu of Java (the highest Javanese king).

Police asked experts from Diponegoro University in Semarang to determine if the claims could be substantiated based on historical evidence, and the results were reportedly negative.