Association Staff Reveals USD 3,000 'Expedited Hajj Fee' per Pilgrim for 2024
Juahir, a staff member of the Indonesian Hajj and Umrah Tour Travel Association (Kesthuri), has revealed the existence of an ‘expedited fee’ specifically for the 2024 Hajj season. Juahir stated that the amount reached USD 3,000 per special Hajj pilgrim candidate.
These details were disclosed by Juahir while testifying as a witness in the 2023-2024 additional Hajj quota corruption case at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court on Thursday (1/10/2026). The defendants in the case include former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, former special staff to Yaqut named Ishfah Abidal Azis (also known as Gus Alex), the Chairman of Kesthuri Asrul Azis Taba, and the Operational Director of PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour) Ismail Adham.
“Did you also receive information from Mr Muhammad Al Fatih that for the 2024 additional quota, an additional sum of USD 3,000 per passenger would be requested, to be paid by each PIHK (Hajj Organiser)?” the prosecutor asked.
“Yes, that is correct,” Juahir replied.
“What was the phrasing used at that time?” the prosecutor asked.
“The phrasing was, yes, a fee of USD 3,000,” Juahir answered.
Juahir stated that the information regarding the expedited fee for the special Hajj was obtained from Muhammad Al Fatih, the Executive Secretary of the Kesthuri Central Executive Board. However, he claimed not to be aware of the technicalities regarding how the expedited fees were collected.
Juahir admitted he had previously been instructed by Asrul Azis Taba to receive USD 67,000 from a representative of a PIHK. He also claimed to have been asked to withdraw US dollars from the Kesthuri account by Usman Jasad, who was the Secretary-General of Kesthuri at the time.
“Regarding the receipt of money in US dollars from PIHK representative Nur Rima Al-Waali (NRA) at the Kesthuri Secretariat office amounting to USD 67,000?” the prosecutor asked.
“Correct,” Juahir replied.
Juahir claimed he did not know the purpose of the funds requested by Usman. He also stated he had been ordered by Asrul Azis to withdraw USD 41,000 from the Kesthuri account.
He mentioned that USD 10,000 of that amount was handed over to an individual named Rayyan, while the remaining USD 31,000 was returned to Asrul.
“Did you ever hand over USD 10,000 to someone named Rayyan L?” the prosecutor asked.
“Correct,” Juahir answered.
“On whose request?” the prosecutor asked.
“It was at the request of Mr Asrul Azis Taba,” Juahir replied.
In this case, former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas is accused of causing state financial losses amounting to IDR 622,090,207,166.41 (approximately 622 billion rupiah) in the alleged corruption of the 2023-2024 additional Hajj quota. Prosecutors allege that these actions were carried out by Yaqut in conjunction with the Chairman of Kesthuri Asrul Azis Taba, former special staff Ishfah Abidal Azis, and the Operational Director of PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour) Ismail Adham.