The TikTok profile “Hajji”, which at one point was followed by around 12,000 people, found itself at the center of serious accusations after some followers suspected that the money they were sending for humanitarian purposes ended up in gambling. Among them is Meho Mahmutagić, originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina, who lives in Austria, writes detector.ba.
Mahmutagić told Detektor that, following the content on TikTok, he came across the profile of Alen Kotorić, who promoted Islam. After a private communication, Kotorić asked him for money, claiming that he lacked 125 euros for firewood for an old woman from Tešnj. Convinced that he was helping, Mahmutagić paid the requested amount via PayPal.
The communication then continued in the WhatsApp group, which Kotorić presented as a space for regular donations to orphans and the socially disadvantaged. The interlocutor of Detektor, who appears in the text under the pseudonym Amir, sent money in a similar way. As he says, he repeatedly paid smaller amounts, responding to messages about hunger, an empty refrigerator, delayed salary or appeals for help to single mothers.
Doubts arose when donors asked for any proof that the money was actually passed on to those it was intended for. Mahmutagić then formed a group in which they began to collect correspondence and evidence of payments, after which they reported everything to the police in Tešnje.
According to him, Kotorić admitted in the messages that he spent about 90 percent of the collected money on gambling, while he kept a smaller part for private needs. The money and evidence were delivered to the police, and Detektor also talked to other people who sent money in a similar way, but did not want to come forward publicly.
Kotorić told reporters that he had no formal religious education, but that after performing the Hajj, he started a TikTok profile where he taught the Qur’an and advised people. He admitted that he received up to 10,000 KM through TikTok gifts and direct payments, and that he started gambling with part of the money after he found himself in financial problems.
“People didn’t know I gambled. They thought I needed the money for other purposes. Gambling is the greatest evil,” said Kotorić, adding that he is aware of the mistake and wants to return the money.
After being confronted with the evidence, the TikTok profile of “Hadžija” was shut down. Donors estimate that more than 7,000 euros were collected in November 2025 alone. Among them was Alejna Felic, a single mother, who says that she gave money “from what she needed to survive”.
“What hurts the most is that he took money from those who themselves were barely making ends meet, citing faith,” said Amir.
Kotorić claims that he took up to 2,000 KM for actual humanitarian actions, admits that he misled people and says that he is ready to return about 3,000 KM, which the donors believe he kept.
Despite the confession, a criminal complaint was filed against him at the Tešanj Police Station. The MUP of the Zenica-Doboj Canton confirmed that the Prosecutor’s Office has been informed and that further checks are being carried out in order to determine a possible criminal offense of fraud.
Lawyer Senad Pizović explains that in such cases the money flows are easy to follow because the payments leave a material trace, and that for the criminal offense of fraud, the law stipulates a sentence of up to three years in prison, depending on the amount of benefit obtained.
(TYPE/Source: detektor.ba)
