The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has disclosed that one of\nthe suspects in the Hajj quota corruption case, Asrul Azis Taba (ASR),\nwho serves as Commissioner of PT Raudah Eksati Utama and Chairman of the\nKesthuri Association, is currently abroad, specifically in Saudi\nArabia.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the suspects, Mr ASR, is currently detected to be abroad,\nstill in Saudi Arabia,\u201d said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to reporters\nat the KPK Building in Jakarta on Tuesday (31\/3).<\/p>\n
Budi stated that the authorities have received confirmation from the\nImmigration Office and have communicated with Asrul.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe investigators have also obtained confirmation from the\nImmigration side and have successfully communicated with suspect ASR,\u201d\nBudi said.<\/p>\n
Budi also urged Asrul to return to Indonesia immediately to follow\nthe investigation process.<\/p>\n
\u201cTherefore, on this occasion, we also urge suspect ASR to return to\nthe homeland as soon as possible so that if needed, he can undergo\nexamination by the investigators in his capacity as a suspect and fulfil\nthe summons,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
However, Budi revealed that no examination summons letter has been\nissued to Asrul yet.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe examination summons letter has not been issued yet; we have not\nsent the examination summons letter,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Budi said they will continue to communicate intensively with the\nIndonesian Embassy in Saudi Arabia (KBRI) and other parties.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe recall that in several previous cases, many KPK suspects were\npositioned abroad, and the KPK coordinated intensively with authorities\nthere. This could be with the KBRI or other parties to help bring back\nthose whose presence is needed to return to the homeland so they can\nfollow the investigation process properly,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Role of Ismail and Asrul<\/p>\n
On Monday (30\/3), the KPK announced Asrul and Ismail Adham,\nOperational Director of PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour), as new suspects in\nthe alleged 2023-2024 Hajj quota corruption case.<\/p>\n
The designation of these suspects follows the earlier detention of\nYaqut and his special staff Ishfah Abidal Aziz alias Gus Alex.<\/p>\n
Ismail and Asrul are suspected of violating Article 2 paragraph (1)\nand or Article 3 of the Corruption Eradication Law (UU Tipikor) in\nconjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) first of the Criminal Code or\nas meant in Article 603 or Article 604 of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the\nCriminal Code in conjunction with Article 20 letter (c) of the Criminal\nCode Law. This relates to losses to state finances.<\/p>\n
Ismail and Asrul are alleged to have actively arranged the filling of\nadditional special Hajj quotas that did not comply with statutory\nregulations, as well as the giving of money to state officials.<\/p>\n
The two suspects, together with Fuad Hasan Masyhur as the Board of\nTrustees of the SATHU Forum (Forum for Silaturahmi of Hajj and Umrah\nTravel Associations) and other parties, held meetings with Yaqut and\nIshfah.<\/p>\n
The meeting was intended to request an increase in the special Hajj\nquota exceeding the 8 percent limit as regulated by law.<\/p>\n
Eventually, in the process, the regular and special Hajj quotas were\ndivided in a 50 percent-50 percent scheme.<\/p>\n
Subsequently, Ismail and Asrul, together with parties from the\nMinistry of Religious Affairs, arranged the filling of additional\nspecial Hajj quotas for companies affiliated with Maktour, thereby\nobtaining additional special Hajj quotas, including Hajj quotas with an\naccelerated departure scheme (T0).<\/p>\n
\u201cSuspect ISM [Ismail Adham] is alleged to have given a sum of money\nto IAA [Ishfah] amounting to US$30,000 as well as to Mr HL [Hilman\nLatief, Director General of Hajj and Umrah Organisers of the Ministry of\nReligious Affairs] amounting to US$5,000 and 16,000 SAR,\u201d said Asep.<\/p>\n
For these actions, Maktour obtained unlawful gains (illegal gain) in\n2024 amounting to approximately Rp27.8 billion.<\/p>\n
\u201cMeanwhile, suspect ASR is alleged to have given a sum of money to Mr\nIAA amounting to US$406,000,\u201d Asep continued.<\/p>\n
For that giving, Asep said, eight Special Hajj Organisers (PIHK)\naffiliated with Asrul also obtained unlawful gains in 2024 totaling\nRp40.8 billion.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe receipt of money by IAA and HL from the suspects is alleged to\nrepresent Mr YCQ as the Religious Affairs Minister at that time,\u201d Asep\nstated.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kesthuri-chairman-new-hajj-quota-corruption-suspect-located-in-saudi-arabia-1774954928", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }