JAKARTA \u2014 The South Jakarta District Court (PN Jaksel) has scheduled\nthe announcement of a pre-trial ruling hearing brought by former\nReligious Affairs Minister (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas on Wednesday, 11\nMarch 2026. Yaqut is challenging his designation as a suspect in an\nalleged corruption case involving hajj quotas.<\/p>\n
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) expresses confidence that\nthe court ruling will favour the anti-corruption agency. The KPK\nmaintains that all stages of case handling have been conducted in\naccordance with applicable legal provisions, both in formal and\nsubstantive terms.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe KPK is certainly optimistic regarding the pre-trial hearing in\nthe hajj quota case. We ensure that all processes carried out, both in\nformal and substantive aspects, have complied with applicable legal\nprovisions,\u201d said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo on Wednesday, 11 March\n2026.<\/p>\n
The KPK states that the designation of suspects in the case was based\non sufficient evidence possessed by investigators. Consequently, the KPK\ninvites the public to monitor the case\u2019s development, as the hajj quota\ncase affects the departure of pilgrims.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe view the construction of this case not merely as a matter of\nstate financial losses, but also encompasses social impacts felt by the\ncommunity, particularly prospective hajj pilgrims,\u201d Budi said.<\/p>\n
Previously, Yaqut\u2019s team contended that the KPK lacked sufficient\nlegal basis and evidence when designating him as a suspect in the hajj\nquota case. This was conveyed by Yaqut\u2019s defence team coordinator,\nMellisa Anggraini, during the pre-trial hearing on the 2024 additional\nhajj quota case at the South Jakarta District Court (PN Jaksel) on\nTuesday, 3 March 2026.<\/p>\n
Mellisa stated that designating a person as a suspect must meet the\nrequirements of Article 90, Paragraph (2) of Law Number 20 of 2025\nconcerning the Code of Criminal Procedure (KUHAP Baru). She argued that\nsuspect designation cannot be based on legal grounds that have been\nrevoked and declared invalid.<\/p>\n
According to Articles 90, paragraphs (2) and (3) of the KUHAP Baru,\nthe suspect designation must be formalised in a Suspect Designation\nLetter signed by the investigator and notified to the suspect no later\nthan one day after the letter is issued. The letter must also contain\nthe suspect\u2019s identity, a brief description of the case, and the\nsuspect\u2019s rights.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, until this pre-trial motion was filed, our client only\nreceived a Notice of Suspect Designation Letter dated 9 January 2026,\nwhilst the Suspect Designation Letter as required by Articles 90,\nparagraphs (2) and (3) of KUHAP Baru was never received,\u201d Mellisa stated\nduring the hearing on 3 March 2026.<\/p>\n
Mellisa highlighted concerns regarding the Notice of Suspect\nDesignation Letter dated 9 January 2026, particularly noting that the\ninvestigation specifically targeting Yaqut only commenced on 8 January\n2026.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/south-jakarta-district-court-to-read-pre-trial-ruling-on-former-religious-affairs-minister-yaqut-today-1773186868", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }