Corruption Commission alleges former Religion Minister charged Pilgrims 84.4 Million Rupiah Each for Expedited Hajj without Queue in 2023

JAKARTA — The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has revealed the existence of an acceleration fee for special hajj services allegedly set by former Religion Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas for pilgrims in 2023.

Asep Guntur Rahayu, Deputy for Prosecution and Execution at the KPK, stated that Yaqut allegedly instructed his special staff member, Ishfah Abidal Aziz (IAA), also known as Gus Alex, to collect these funds.

According to Rahayu, Gus Alex allegedly directed officials at the Religion Ministry to demand acceleration fees for special hajj services from Special Hajj Organisers (PIHK). In 2023, Gus Alex also allegedly ordered Rizky to issue a Directorate General Decree concerning the acceleration of pilgrims’ departures without queuing through special hajj quotas.

“RFA then determined pilgrim quotas for 54 Special Hajj Organisers, enabling them to depart directly without queuing. RFA also granted special treatment to certain organisers to fill additional special hajj quotas with special hajj pilgrims,” Asep stated during a press conference on Thursday evening (12 March 2026).

Each pilgrim could depart directly through additional special hajj quotas by paying an acceleration fee of USD 5,000, or approximately 84.4 million rupiah. One method of fee collection involved converting regular hajj visa pilgrims into special hajj pilgrims. That year, Indonesia received an additional special hajj quota of 640 pilgrims.

“RFA instructed his staff to collect acceleration fees from Special Hajj Organisers for filling additional special hajj quotas that received T0 or TX status valued at USD 5,000 or 84.4 million rupiah per pilgrim,” Asep explained.

“Based on the KPK investigation team’s findings, RFA also distributed these acceleration fees to YCQ, IAA, and several Religion Ministry officials,” Asep added.

Prior to his detention, Yaqut claimed he had never received any money from the alleged hajj quota corruption case during the 2023-2024 hajj rescue operation. He made this statement while wearing a KPK detention vest after being questioned as a suspect at the Red and White Building in Jakarta on Thursday (12 March 2026).

“I have never received a single rupiah from the case I am being accused of, and I implemented all these policies solely for the safety of pilgrims,” Yaqut stated.