Indonesia\u2019s Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) has seized funds\nexceeding Rp100 billion, four vehicles, and five plots of land and\nbuildings related to an alleged corruption case involving additional\nhajj quotas that is suspected of causing state financial losses\ntotalling Rp622 billion.<\/p>\n
The KPK has also detained former Religion Minister Yaqut Cholil\nQoumas for 20 days of investigation into the case involving the\n2023\u20132024 hajj pilgrimage season. The detention occurred after the KPK\nquestioned Yaqut as a suspect on Thursday, 12 March.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn this case, the KPK has also conducted asset seizures totalling\nover Rp100 billion, comprising cash amounting to US$3.7 million; Rp22\nbillion and SAR16,000, as well as four vehicles and five plots of land\nand buildings,\u201d said KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep\nGuntur Rahayu during a press conference at the agency\u2019s Jakarta office\non Thursday evening.<\/p>\n
Besides Yaqut, the KPK has also named Ishfah Abidal Aziz, also known\nas Gus Alex, as a suspect in the case. He served as Yaqut\u2019s special\nstaff when the latter was Religion Minister.<\/p>\n
As of this evening, only Yaqut has been detained by the KPK.<\/p>\n
Both are suspected of violating Article 2 paragraph (1) and\/or\nArticle 3 of the Anti-Corruption Act (Law No.\u00a031 of 1999) in conjunction\nwith Article 55 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.<\/p>\n
\u201cSubsequently, today the KPK has detained the suspect Yaqut Cholil\nQoumas for an initial 20-day period from 12 to 31 March 2026. The\ndetention is being held at the State Detention Centre (Rutan) of the\nKPK\u2019s Red and White Building,\u201d said Asep.<\/p>\n
Background to the case<\/p>\n
The additional hajj quota at issue in the investigation was obtained\nfollowing a bilateral meeting between Indonesia\u2019s seventh president,\nJoko Widodo, and Saudi Arabia\u2019s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed\nbin Salman Al-Saud on 19 October 2023.<\/p>\n
According to Article 64 paragraph 2 of Law No.\u00a08 of 2019 concerning\nthe implementation of hajj and umrah, the special hajj quota is set at 8\nper cent of Indonesia\u2019s total hajj quota.<\/p>\n
The special hajj quota comprises special pilgrims and special hajj\npersonnel. The remaining 92 per cent is allocated for the regular hajj\nquota.<\/p>\n
The additional 20,000 hajj quotas should have been distributed with\n18,400 allocated for regular pilgrims\u2014equivalent to 92 per cent\u2014and\n1,600 for the special hajj quota, equivalent to 8 per cent.<\/p>\n
Consequently, the regular hajj quota, which originally totalled\n203,320, should have increased to 221,720 persons. Meanwhile, the\nspecial hajj quota, originally 17,680, should have increased to 19,280\npersons.<\/p>\n
However, the actual distribution was divided into 10,000 for the\nregular hajj quota and 10,000 for the special hajj quota.<\/p>\n
The KPK believes there was unlawful conduct regarding the\ndistribution of the additional hajj quotas. This assessment has also\nbeen supported by expert legal opinion.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, since the outset of handling this case, the KPK has been\ncooperating with the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre\n(PPATK) to trace the flow of funds.<\/p>\n
KPK witnesses<\/p>\n
Numerous witnesses from the Religion Ministry, hajj travel agencies,\nand associations have been examined.<\/p>\n
These include Yaqut Cholil Qoumas; Director General of Hajj and Umrah\nImplementation at the Religion Ministry Hilman Latief; Chairman of the\nBoard of Trustees of the Nahdlatul Ulama organisation and Yaqut\u2019s staff\nmember Ishfah Abidal Aziz, also known as Gus Alex; Deputy Secretary\nGeneral of the Youth Movement Board of the Ansor movement Syarif Hamzah\nAsyathry.<\/p>\n
Also examined were owners of hajj travel agencies Fuad Hasan Masyhur\n(Maktour Travel), Khalid Zeed Abdullah Basalamah (PT Zahra Oto\nMandiri\/Uhud Tour), Ibnu Mas\u2019ud (PT Muhibbah Mulia Wisata Pekanbaru);\nSecretary of Kesthuri Muhammad Al Fatih; Visa Division of Kesthuri\nJuahir; Chairman of Sapuhi Syam Resfiadi; and Independent Commissioner\nof PT Sucofindo Zainal Abidi.<\/p>\n
The KPK has also conducted searches at various locations including\nYaqut\u2019s residence in Condet, East Jakarta; offices of hajj and umrah\ntravel agencies in Jakarta; the residence of a Religion Ministry civil\nservant in Depok; and the office of the Directorate General of Hajj and\nUmrah Implementation at the Religion Ministry.<\/p>\n
When escorted to the detention vehicle by the KPK on Thursday\nevening, Yaqut told gathered journalists: \u201cI have never received a\nsingle rupiah from the case I am accused of, and I implemented all of\nthese policies solely for the safety of pilgrims.\u201d<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kpk-seizes-assets-worth-over-rp100-billion-in-yaqut-hajj-quota-corruption-case-former-religion-minister-1773323588", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }