A pre-trial hearing for former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Choli\nQoumas regarding his suspect status in a hajj quota corruption case\nresumed today with closing arguments scheduled. Yaqut expressed\nconfidence that he would be cleared of suspect status after observing\nconsensus amongst expert witnesses from both sides regarding his\ndesignation as a suspect.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have followed this pre-trial process from the beginning, though I\ninitially attended in person and subsequently joined online. I am very\ngrateful because there is agreement, understanding, between expert\nwitnesses for both the respondent and petitioner on several matters,\u201d\nYaqut said after the hearing at Jakarta South District Court on Monday,\n9 March 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost importantly, both the petitioner\u2019s and respondent\u2019s witnesses\nshare an understanding that the designation of suspect status must\nfollow a process or there must already be evidence of state loss first,\u201d\nhe continued.<\/p>\n
Yaqut also stated that on this basis, his team is confident the judge\nwill render a fair decision. Yaqut\u2019s pre-trial verdict hearing is\nscheduled for Wednesday, 11 March.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am confident that with the very objective justice system, which I\nbelieve is operating fairly, the truth will find its way, wherever and\nwhenever,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Separately, KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo explained that the\nanti-corruption agency is also confident the judge will uphold the\nsuspect designation against Yaqut. The KPK is convinced the suspect\ndesignation has sufficient evidentiary support.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are confident the judge will accept the KPK\u2019s arguments through\nthe Legal Bureau and declare that all formal aspects of the\ninvestigation procedure, including the suspect designation, comply with\nlegal provisions and have sufficient valid evidence,\u201d Budi\nexplained.<\/p>\n
Budi added that the agency is confident the judge will reject the\npre-trial petition filed by Yaqut\u2019s team.<\/p>\n
\u201cTherefore, we are confident that in tomorrow\u2019s verdict, the judge\nwill reject the petitioner\u2019s application and declare the suspect\ndesignation of YCQ in this case valid,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
As previously reported, the KPK designated former Religious Affairs\nMinister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and his former special staff, Ishfah Abidal\nAziz (Gus Alex), as suspects in the corruption case involving the\nmanagement of an additional 20,000 hajj quota for 2024. Both are\nsuspected of abusing their authority in distributing the additional\nquota equally.<\/p>\n
The KPK stated that the financial losses to the state in this case\nhave been finalised by the Financial Audit Board (BPK). In a pre-trial\nhearing held on Wednesday, 4 March, the KPK cited state losses in the\nhajj quota case at 622 billion rupiah.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/yaqut-confident-of-dismissing-suspect-status-in-hajj-quota-case-kpk-confident-judge-will-reject-plea-1773035641", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }