Corruption and Graft Commission Detains Former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut

The Corruption and Graft Commission (KPK) has formally detained former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas after he was questioned as a suspect in an alleged corruption case involving the administration and distribution of hajj quotas. As he approached the detention vehicle, Yaqut denied having received any funds related to the case under investigation.

“I have never received a single rupiah from the case alleged against me,” Yaqut stated when approached at the Red and White Building of the KPK in South Jakarta on Thursday (12 March).

Yaqut argued that the discretionary decisions he made whilst serving as minister were motivated purely by the welfare of Indonesian hajj pilgrims and were not intended to harm anyone.

“I implemented all these policies solely for the safety of pilgrims,” he said before entering the detention vehicle.

In addition to Yaqut (YCQ), the KPK has also designated former Special Staff to the Religious Affairs Minister, Isfan Abidal Aziz (IAA), also known as Gus Alex, as a suspect. The anti-corruption agency is committed to expediting case files for swift submission to trial proceedings.

The core of this corruption case concerns the distribution of hajj quotas, which is alleged to have violated established regulations. Indonesia was originally to receive an additional 20,000 quotas to accelerate the queue of pilgrims.

In accordance with regulations, the additional quota should have been divided at a ratio of 92 per cent for regular hajj and 8 per cent for special hajj. However, in practice, the quota was allegedly divided equally at 50 per cent each.

To date, KPK investigators have questioned numerous officials from within the Ministry of Religious Affairs as well as representatives of travel service providers. One witness who was questioned was Islamic preacher Khalid Basalamah.