The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has designated two\nprivate individuals, Ismail Adham (ISM), Operational Director of PT\nMakassar Toraja (Maktour), and Asrul Azis Taba (ASR), Commissioner of PT\nRaudah Eksati Utama and Chairman of the Kesthuri Association, as new\nsuspects in the 2023-2024 Hajj quota corruption case. KPK has explained\nthe reasons for charging both with provisions on state losses.<\/p>\n
KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu, during a\npress conference at the KPK building in South Jakarta on Monday\n(30\/3\/2026), initially explained the roles of both, which have been\nproven to have participated in arranging the distribution of the\n2023-2024 Hajj quotas in a manner not in accordance with the law.<\/p>\n
Asep also stated that both provided \u2018rewards\u2019 money to Yaqut Cholil\nQoumas (YCQ), the former Minister of Religious Affairs (Menag), through\nhis then-special staff, Isfah Abidal Azis (IAA) or Gus Alex. Asep\nexplained that the money was given by the two suspects because their\npath had been smoothed to obtain additional special Hajj quotas.<\/p>\n
Asep clarified that the application of Article 2 paragraph (1) and\/or\nArticle 3 of Law No.\u00a031 of 1999 as amended by Article 18 of Law No.\u00a031\nof 1999 on the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption is based on\nactions that benefit others. In this case, said Asep, the two suspects\nfrom the private sector have shared profits with Yaqut as a state\nofficial at the time of this case.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat the giving of a certain amount of money, as mentioned in\nArticle 2, Article 3, includes the element of benefiting oneself,\nothers, or a corporation. Although not cumulative, alternatively, but\ncertainly what we convey here is to prove that the element of benefiting\noneself is indeed present,\u201d Asep stated.<\/p>\n
At the same time, said Asep, the application of this article is also\nto address the narrative circulating in society that there was no\nbenefit received by Yaqut as Menag at that time. Asep explained that\nthrough these two suspects, KPK has proven that money was given to Yaqut\nthrough his then-special staff, Gus Alex.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo the polemic that has always been echoed that he did not enjoy,\nand so on, never received, well, here there is someone giving a certain\namount of money to his representative,\u201d Asep clarified.<\/p>\n
Previously, Asep revealed that both Ismail and Asrul have been proven\nto have given money to Yaqut as the former Menag. The money was given\nthrough an intermediary, namely Yaqut\u2019s former special staff, Gus\nAlex.<\/p>\n
Asep said Ismail gave money to Gus Alex amounting to 30,000 US\ndollars. Ismail also, said Asep, handed over money to the Director\nGeneral of PHU of the Ministry of Religious Affairs in 2024, Hilman\nLatief (HL), amounting to 5,000 US dollars.<\/p>\n
\u201cSuspect ISM is alleged to have given a certain amount of money to\nIAA amounting to 30,000 USD, as well as to Mr HL as Director General of\nHajj and Umrah Organisers of the Directorate General of PHU of the\nMinistry of Religious Affairs amounting to 5,000 USD and 16,000 SAR,\u201d\nsaid Asep.<\/p>\n
Asep stated that from the money given by Ismail to Gus Alex and\nDirector General PHU of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Hilman Latif,\nit enabled Maktour to obtain unlawful or illegal gains. That year, said\nAsep, the illegal profit obtained by Maktour reached Rp27.8 billion.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor their actions, PT Makassar Toraja Maktour obtained unlawful or\nillegal gains in 2024 amounting to around Rp27.8 billion, this is the\nresult of the state financial loss calculation carried out by auditors,\u201d\nAsep stated.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, suspect Asrul was said by Asep to have also given a\ncertain amount of money to Gus Alex amounting to 406,000 US dollars from\nthe additional quota given. Asep said that from the additional quota\nprovided, it benefited eight special Hajj worship organisers (PIHK).<\/p>\n
\u201cWhereas suspect ISR is alleged to have given a certain amount of\nmoney to Mr IAA amounting to 406,000 USD. From that giving, eight\nspecial Hajj organisers PHK affiliated with suspect ISR also obtained\nunlawful gains in 2024 totalling Rp40.8 billion, this is also the result\nof calculations from auditors,\u201d Asep explained.<\/p>\n
He mentioned that Gus Alex and Hilman served as representations of\nYaqut when receiving money from Ismail and Asrul. Because, he said,\nYaqut had appointed both to handle matters from the PIHKs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe receipt of a certain amount of money by IAA and HL from the\nsuspects is alleged as representation from Mr YCQ as the Minister of\nReligious Affairs at that time, because colleagues need to know that Mr\nIAA is special staff and on several occasions Mr YCQ always stated that\nif there are matters, directly to Mr IAA,\u201d he added.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/reasons-kpk-charges-two-private-suspects-in-hajj-quota-case-using-state-loss-article-1774885939", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }