The legal team of Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas\nhas expressed full confidence that the Solo Judge of the South Jakarta\nDistrict Court will grant the pretrial motion to annul his suspect\nstatus in the hajj quota corruption case. The hearing verdict is\nscheduled to be read on Wednesday, 11 March.<\/p>\n
This optimism emerged following a series of courtroom facts that are\nconsidered fundamental weaknesses in the KPK\u2019s designation of suspect\nstatus.<\/p>\n
Yaqut\u2019s counsel, Mellisa Anggraini, emphasised that their confidence\nwas based on objective facts, evidence, and expert testimony presented\nduring the court proceedings.<\/p>\n
One of the crucial points highlighted was the KPK\u2019s acknowledgement\nregarding the use of provisions considered no longer relevant. According\nto Mellisa, the KPK admitted to applying Article 55 of the old Criminal\nCode regarding participation in offences, which has been replaced in the\nnew Criminal Code and will be amended accordingly.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis statement indirectly demonstrates that there was an error in\napplying criminal law provisions used as the basis for designating our\nclient, Yaqut, as a suspect,\u201d Mellisa said in her official statement on\nTuesday, 10 March.<\/p>\n
Beyond the statutory issue, the legal team also found serious\nprocedural defects related to the suspect designation document. Mellisa\nrevealed that her client never formally received a suspect designation\nletter, but only a notification letter without the core document that\ncarries binding legal force.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis fact was even reinforced by expert testimony presented by the\nKPK itself during the hearing,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
The proceedings also examined the authority of the KPK leadership.\nReferring to changes in the KPK Law and the Criminal Procedure Code,\nMellisa argued that the anti-corruption agency\u2019s leadership no longer\nhas authority as investigators. This has implications for the legality\nof the suspect designation action, which should be carried out by a\nlegally valid investigator.<\/p>\n
Finally, Mellisa raised concerns about the timeline for calculating\nstate losses, which appeared irregular. Based on facts presented at\ntrial, the state loss audit report was only issued on 20 February 2026,\nwhile the suspect designation was made well before that date.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis situation demonstrates serious problems in both the procedural\naspects and legal basis for the suspect designation,\u201d she stressed.<\/p>\n
Closing her statement, Mellisa affirmed that the defence places full\ntrust in the judge\u2019s integrity to decide the case objectively.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe fully respect the ongoing judicial process and place confidence\nin the judge to decide this case objectively, based on the law and facts\nrevealed during the hearing,\u201d she concluded.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/yaquts-legal-team-optimistic-judge-will-annul-suspect-status-1773157942", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }