Banser Protests as Former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Detained by KPK

Several members of Banser (Barisan Ansor Serbaguna), the youth wing of Gerakan Pemuda (GP) Ansor, have condemned the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for detaining former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.

During field observations on Thursday, 12 March, Banser members attempted to force entry into the KPK building in Kuningan, Jakarta. Scuffles broke out at the entrance to the KPK building, and members chanted Islamic prayers as Yaqut was escorted into a KPK detention vehicle. Some Banser members also burned t-shirts printed with “KPK” whilst chanting “KPK is tyrannical.”

Yaqut was detained by the KPK for an initial 20-day period on Thursday, 12 March, in connection with the alleged corruption case involving additional hajj quota allocations. When being escorted, Yaqut emphasised that he had not accepted any financial benefit whatsoever in the alleged corruption case. Wearing the distinctive orange detention uniform with his hands shackled, Yaqut was accompanied by KPK officials and police officers.

“I have never received a single rupiah from the case attributed to me, and I carried out all these policies solely for the safety of the pilgrims,” Yaqut stated just before being escorted into the detention vehicle at KPK headquarters on Thursday evening, 12 March.

Yaqut and his special aide, Ishfah Abidal Aziz (also known as Gus Alex), have been designated as suspects in the alleged corruption case involving additional hajj quota allocations. Prior to detention, the KPK had requested that the Directorate General of Immigration prevent Yaqut and Ishfah from leaving the country for six months until 12 August 2026.

During the investigation process, the KPK has conducted searches at multiple locations including Yaqut’s residence in Condet, East Jakarta, a hajj and umrah travel agency office in Jakarta, a Civil Service official’s home in Depok, and the office of the Directorate General of Hajj and Umrah (PHU) within the Religious Affairs Ministry. Numerous pieces of evidence suspected to be related to the case have been seized, including documents, electronic evidence, vehicles, and property.

According to calculations by the State Audit Board (BPK), the state reportedly suffered losses totalling IDR 622,090,207,166.41 (approximately IDR 622 billion) from the alleged corruption case involving additional hajj quota allocations for the 2023 and 2024 hajj seasons.