Corruption in Hajj Quota: Former Religion Minister Yaqut Alleged to Have Received Accelerated Special Hajj Fees in 2023-2024
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has discovered strong evidence that former Religion Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas received fees related to the acceleration of special hajj departures in an alleged hajj quota corruption case. The alleged receipt of funds covers two periods of hajj pilgrimage, namely 2023 (1444 Hijrah) and 2024 (1445 Hijrah).
The KPK’s Deputy for Prosecution and Execution, Asep Guntur Rahayu, revealed that the funds were collected systematically through officials at the Ministry of Religion’s Directorate General of Hajj and Umrah (PHU).
Based on investigation findings, different tariffs were charged to pilgrims to accelerate their departure for each fiscal year. The funds collected from pilgrims were not only distributed to Yaqut but also to Ishfah Abidal Aziz, known as Gus Alex, who served as Special Staff to the Religion Minister at that time, as well as several other officials within the Ministry of Religion.
The method employed in this hajj quota corruption involved manipulating the queue system. Special hajj candidates willing to pay additional fees were given priority to depart more quickly, even though they had only just registered (T0 category). The accelerated special hajj system allowed newly registered candidates to depart faster than their queue position would normally permit.
According to an audit by Indonesia’s Supreme Audit Board (BPK), the total state financial loss in this hajj quota corruption case reached Rp622 billion.
The investigation into this hajj quota corruption case has identified two main suspects: Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and Gus Alex. Yaqut filed a pre-trial motion with the South Jakarta District Court under case number 19/Pid.Pra/2026/PN JKT.SEL, but the judge rejected the motion on 11 March 2026.
Following the pre-trial decision, the KPK immediately detained Yaqut on 12 March 2026 at the State Detention House in the KPK’s Red and White Building. Meanwhile, the ban on Yaqut and Gus Alex leaving the country has also been extended to facilitate further investigation. The KPK has detained Yaqut Cholil Qoumas for an initial detention period of 20 days.
The KPK has seized assets worth more than Rp100 billion belonging to the hajj quota corruption suspect Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, ranging from millions of US dollars to land and buildings.
The KPK has revealed Gus Alex’s role in the hajj quota corruption. He is suspected of instructing Ministry of Religion officials to relax T0 regulations. The state loss has reached Rp622 billion.
The KPK affirmed that it will continue to investigate possible fund flows to private parties, including owners of hajj travel agencies involved in this illegal acceleration scheme. The operational method employed by the suspects allowed prospective pilgrims who had only just registered to depart immediately by paying a certain sum of money.