Anti-Corruption Commission Detains Former Religion Minister Yaqut; Banser Members Burn Fires Outside KPK Building
Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) formally detained Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, the former minister of religious affairs, on Thursday, 12 March 2026, on suspicion of corruption related to hajj quota allocation. The detention proceeded despite a significant mobilisation of members from Barisan Ansor Serbaguna (Banser), an Islamic-affiliated mass organisation, outside KPK headquarters.
Yaqut emerged from the KPK building after evening prayers and was immediately placed into a detention vehicle whilst wearing an orange suspect’s vest. Hundreds of Banser members gathered outside the KPK building, chanting slogans critical of the commission, with some setting fires in front of the premises.
An orator addressing the crowd at KPK headquarters in Jakarta at approximately 16:39 stated that they had come to accompany their colleague and advisor. Banser representatives demanded that the KPK act fairly, warning that larger numbers of supporters would return if their demands were not met. “Yaqut is the advisor of Ansor Banser,” the orator said. “If our friend Yaqut is hurt, our blood boils. We will fight until death.”
More than five buses carrying Banser members subsequently passed through the grounds of KPK headquarters, with the crowd remaining until at least 16:55.
The case concerns alleged corruption in the determination and administration of the hajj quota at the Ministry of Religious Affairs during 2023–2024. The KPK initially announced the investigation on 9 August 2025 and reported preliminary losses to the state of more than Rp1 trillion on 11 August 2025. Three individuals were initially banned from travelling abroad for up to six months: Yaqut, Ishfah Abidal Aziz (known as Gus Alex, Yaqut’s staff member), and Fuad Hasan Masyhur (owner of the hajj organising bureau Maktour).
On 9 January 2026, the KPK designated Yaqut and Gus Alex as suspects. Yaqut subsequently filed a pretrial motion with the South Jakarta District Court on 10 February 2026. The travel ban was extended on 19 February 2026 for Yaqut and Gus Alex only, whilst Fuad’s ban was not renewed.
The KPK received an audit from the Indonesian Financial Audit Board on 27 February 2026 regarding state financial losses, which on 4 March 2026 were calculated at Rp622 billion. On 11 March 2026, the South Jakarta District Court rejected Yaqut’s pretrial motion, paving the way for his detention.