Hundreds of members from Barisan Ansor Serbaguna (Banser) and Ansor\nYouth converged on the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)\nheadquarters on Jalan Raya Kuningan in South Jakarta on Thursday\nafternoon, 12 March, in a mass protest opposing the investigation of\nformer Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, who had been designated\nas a suspect.<\/p>\n
During their speeches, the protesters claimed that Yaqut was a victim\nof legal criminalisation. They asserted that Yaqut was an exemplary\ncadre who could not possibly be involved in corruption related to the\norganisation of the hajj pilgrimage.<\/p>\n
The demonstrators also issued threats to mobilise large numbers of\nprotesters if the legal process against Yaqut continued. They stated\nthey would oversee the process through to completion.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe warn that we will mobilise seven million Banser and Ansor members\nto occupy the KPK building if our best cadre is criminalised,\u201d declared\none orator at the scene.<\/p>\n
The protest caused complete traffic paralysis on Jalan Raya Kuningan\nPersada as the roadway was blocked by demonstrators who had been\narriving continuously since 16:30.<\/p>\n
Yaqut Cholil Qoumas underwent intensive examination from 13:00\nonwards. He was questioned regarding allegations of corruption involving\nadditional hajj quotas and the organisation of pilgrimage and umrah\n(lesser pilgrimage) activities in 2024 by the Ministry of Religion.<\/p>\n
The KPK was reported to move forward with his detention immediately\nafter evening prayers. The anti-corruption agency also planned to hold a\npress conference to detail the case construction against the former\nminister.<\/p>\n
Previously, Yaqut\u2019s attempt to overturn his suspect status through a\npretrial motion failed. The single judge at South Jakarta District\nCourt, Sulistyo Muhammad Dwi Putro, rejected all of Yaqut\u2019s submissions\non Wednesday, 11 March. The judge found that the KPK\u2019s designation of\nsuspect status complied with legal procedures and was supported by a\nminimum of two valid pieces of evidence.<\/p>\n
In this case, the KPK suspected significant state losses. Yaqut faced\ncharges alongside his former Special Staff, Ishfah Abidal Aziz\n(nicknamed Gus Alex), under Articles 2 and 3 of the Law on Corruption\nOffences.<\/p>\n
At the time of reporting, the KPK had recorded approximately 100\nbillion rupiah in state funds returned by related parties in the hajj\nquota corruption case. Examinations within the KPK building were\ncontinuing under tight police supervision.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hundreds-of-banser-activists-storm-kpk-to-reject-detention-of-yaqut-cholil-qoumas-1773320093", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }