Anti-Corruption Commission to Summon Gus Alex Next Week; Will He Be Arrested?

Jakarta – Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has scheduled the interrogation of Ishfah Abidal Aziz, known as Gus Alex, a former special staff member to ex-Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, for next week.

Gus Alex is now formally designated as a suspect in the hajj quota corruption case, a status he shares with Yaqut.

“We have scheduled the individual in question for interrogation next week,” stated Asep Guntur Rahayu, Deputy for Prosecution and Execution at the KPK, to journalists on Friday, 13 March 2026.

It remains unclear whether Gus Alex will be detained immediately following his interrogation, as occurred with Yaqut after his KPK questioning.

Background to the investigation:

The KPK commenced its investigation into alleged corruption related to Indonesia’s hajj quota allocation for 2023–2024 on 9 August 2025. By 11 August 2025, the commission had announced preliminary calculations indicating state losses exceeding Rp1 trillion and had imposed travel bans on three individuals for six months.

Those subject to travel restrictions were Yaqut, Gus Alex, and Fuad Hasan Masyhur, owner of the hajj administration agency Maktour.

On 9 January 2026, the KPK designated two of the three travel-banned individuals as suspects: Yaqut and Gus Alex.

Yaqut subsequently filed a pre-trial motion challenging his designation as a suspect at Jakarta South District Court on 10 February 2026 (case number 19/Pid.Pra/2026/PN JKT.SEL). On 11 March 2026, the court panel rejected his motion.

The travel bans were extended on 19 February 2026 for both Yaqut and Gus Alex, whilst Fuad’s restriction was not renewed.

The State Audit Board (BPK RI) completed its audit into the financial losses on 27 February 2026, with the KPK announcing on 4 March 2026 that the state loss had been calculated at Rp622 billion.

On 12 March 2026, the KPK detained Yaqut at the State Detention Centre in the KPK’s Red and White Building.