Former KPK Investigator Says Yaqut's Designation as a Suspect in the Hajj Case Was Weak from the Outset
Former KPK investigator Yudi Purnomo has criticised the decision to name former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas as a suspect in the alleged corruption over the determination of Hajj quota and the organisation of the 2023-2024 Hajj pilgrimage as weak from the outset.
He argued that the weakness lies in the KPK raising the status of the case from inquiry to investigation with a general investigation warrant (sprindik) that did not name a suspect.
‘Weak, yes, because the KPK, from the start I said, should have a suspect first. After all, the KPK ultimately designates a suspect; why work twice,’ Yudi told reporters on Sunday, 8 March.
Yudi highlighted state losses in the case. One of the issues concerns a decline in the estimated losses based on audits by the Audit Board of Indonesia (BPK).
KPK, in a pre-trial hearing, explained that BPK’s examination of state losses reached Rp622 billion. Earlier, KPK had disclosed losses of up to Rp1 trillion.
‘Because what we have traditionally known is that state losses relate to the APBN, APBD, or those in state-owned enterprises (BUMN). This will also be tested,’ he said.
However, Yudi did not want to say much about the pre-trial proceedings. In his view, the decision rests entirely in the hands of the judge.
‘Yaqut may find a loophole because this is formal; we have not yet discussed the substantive acts of Yaqut. We are talking about the formal aspects first. But when he takes any action, the KPK surely has arguments from the legal bureau,’ Yudi said.
Yaqut previously filed for pre-trial on Tuesday, 10 February 2026. The application is registered with case number: 19/Pid.Pra/2026/PN JKT.SEL.
Yaqut intends to challenge the process of designating him as a suspect in the case of alleged corruption in the extra Hajj quota conducted by the KPK.
Yaqut’s legal counsel has asked Judge Sulistyo Muhammad Dwi Putro to annul three investigation warrants (Sprindik) used as the basis for the KPK to prosecute his client as a suspect in the alleged corruption in the extra Hajj quota.
The three letters are: Letter Number Sprin.Dik/61/DIK.00/01/08/2025 dated 8 August 2025; Letter Number Sprin.Dik/61A.2025/DIK.00/01/11/2025 dated 21 November 2025; and Letter Number Sprin.Dik/01/Dik.00/01/01/2026 dated 8 January 2026.
One of the points raised by Yaqut’s legal counsel is that the KPK does not have authority to conduct investigations or to designate suspects.”}