Corruption Funds from Hajj Quota Scheme Diverted for Yaqut's Personal Use and DPR Special Committee Conditioning
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has uncovered new facts in the alleged corruption case regarding hajj operations. The flow of funds from illegal levies (fees) on hajj quotas is suspected to have been enjoyed not only personally by former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (YCQ), but also used to condition the Special Hajj Committee at the Indonesian Parliament (DPR RI).
Asep Guntur Rahayu, Deputy for Prosecution and Execution at the KPK, revealed that Gus Alex, former Special Staff to the Religious Affairs Minister, panicked when parliament planned to establish a Special Hajj Committee in July 2024. To cover his tracks, Gus Alex ordered Religious Affairs Ministry officials to return money to associations or Special Hajj Service Providers (PIHK).
Asep stated that not all funds were returned. Some were retained for the personal needs of former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.
“Some of the fee money was still stored and used for YCQ’s personal interests,” Asep said.
Beyond personal interests, the KPK found indications that fee collections from accelerated hajj departures in 2023 and 2024 were set aside to influence the political process in parliament.
“The funds collected from fees are also suspected to have been used to condition the Special Hajj Committee, which YCQ was aware of,” Asep asserted.
The KPK has designated former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (YCQ) and former Religious Affairs Minister’s Special Staff Isfan Abidal Aziz (IAA), alias Gus Alex, as suspects in the alleged bribery case involving hajj operations and quota distribution. The KPK has promised to bring the case to trial.
The problem in this corruption case stems from quota distribution that did not comply with applicable regulations. Indonesia was supposed to receive an additional 20,000 hajj quotas to accelerate the queue. Out of this total, the government should have distributed it with 92 per cent for regular hajj and 8 per cent for special hajj. However, certain parties divided it equally at 50 per cent each instead.
The KPK has questioned numerous officials at the Religious Affairs Ministry and also sought statements from travel and umrah service providers, including Islamic teacher Khalid Basalamah.
The KPK has detained former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas in connection with alleged hajj quota corruption. The suspect is suspected of receiving IDR 84.4 million per quota in fees via code T0.
The KPK has revealed that state losses in the hajj quota corruption case total IDR 622 billion. Former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas is formally detained on suspicion of quota manipulation.
The KPK has seized assets valued at more than IDR 100 billion, including 5 plots of land and buildings, in connection with the hajj quota corruption case involving former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.