The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) will summon special aide\n(stafus) to former Religion Minister (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, Ishfah\nAbidal Aziz (IAA), also known as Gus Alex, for questioning as a suspect\nin a corruption case involving the additional hajj quota next week.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have already summoned the individual in question for next week.\nSo please stand by,\u201d said Asep Guntur Rahayu, Deputy for Enforcement and\nExecution at the KPK, during a press conference at its Jakarta office on\nThursday (12 March).<\/p>\n
Gus Alex held several important roles in this case.<\/p>\n
During the allocation of the special additional hajj quota in 2023,\nthe government allegedly demanded fees of approximately USD 4,000-5,000\n(Rp67.5 million-Rp84.4 million) through Gus Alex and Yaqut from travel\nagents or pilgrim organisers (PIHK). These fees were subsequently passed\non to the pilgrims themselves.<\/p>\n
During the process, when information emerged that Parliament would\nestablish a Special Committee (Pansus) on Hajj around July 2024, Gus\nAlex instructed the relevant subdivision head to return all collected\nfees to the associations or PIHK operators.<\/p>\n
Subsequently, in November 2023, there was communication between the\nTechnical Staff at Indonesia\u2019s Hajj Affairs Office in Jeddah and Gus\nAlex regarding Indonesia\u2019s 2024 hajj quota, which was entered into the\ne-hajj application as 221,000 rather than the expected 241,000.<\/p>\n
Upon receiving this information, Gus Alex indicated that the\nadditional quota of 20,000 would be divided 50:50, which he did based on\ninstructions from Yaqut Cholil Qoumas as Religion Minister.<\/p>\n
In this case, both Yaqut and Gus Alex have been designated as\nsuspects by the KPK. Yaqut has been detained by the KPK for the next 20\ndays.<\/p>\n
During the ongoing investigation, the KPK has conducted searches at\nnumerous locations, including Yaqut\u2019s residence in Condet, East Jakarta;\nthe offices of hajj and umrah travel agencies in Jakarta; the homes of\ncivil servants at the Religion Ministry in Depok; and the offices of the\nDirectorate General for Hajj and Umrah (PHU) at the Religion\nMinistry.<\/p>\n
Substantial evidence suspected to be related to the case has been\nseized, including documents, electronic evidence, vehicles, and\nproperty.<\/p>\n
According to calculations by the Financial Audit Board (BPK), the\nstate is reported to have suffered losses of approximately\nRp622.090.207.166,41 (Rp622 billion) from the alleged corruption case\ninvolving the additional hajj quota for the 2023 and 2024\npilgrimages.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kpk-to-summon-aide-of-former-religion-minister-next-week-1773381146", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }