Former KPK Investigator Urges Commission to Reveal Mastermind Behind Yaqut's House Arrest

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has issued an apology regarding the transfer of former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas from detention to house arrest, a move that has drawn significant public scrutiny. Former KPK investigator Yudi Purnomo Harahap stated that an apology alone is insufficient and merely normative, especially given the uproar caused by the KPK over the shift in detention status related to the hajj quota case involving Gus Yaqut.

Yudi remarked that the public expects more than just an apology from the anti-corruption agency, which is also demanded to be transparent in revealing the process behind Yaqut’s transfer, which appeared opaque. Yudi believes the KPK must uncover the individual who proposed the idea and any suspicions of intervention behind the house arrest status temporarily granted to Yaqut.

“What the public wants is not just an apology or a defence that this was an institutional decision, but transparency on why that decision was made. Who came up with the idea, especially as suspicions of intervention grow when we know internally at the KPK there were differences, differences in spokespersons who initially said he was healthy, only for it to be revealed he was taken to hospital and stated to have GERD by the KPK’s Deputy for Enforcement,” Yudi explained.

“When Gus Yaqut was returned to the detention centre, he was not handcuffed. This is interesting because when he was returned to the detention centre and displayed to the public, but at that time it was done quietly and only exposed by others,” he added.

Yudi also encouraged the role of the KPK’s Supervisory Board (Dewas) in addressing allegations of procedural violations in Yaqut’s detention transfer. According to Yudi, this moment must serve as proof of the Dewas’s performance.

“If the Dewas remains silent, it means the Dewas also approves of that decision,” Yudi said.

Suspicions of ‘Political Cowboys’

Separately, former KPK investigator Praswad Nugraha stated that the transfer of detention for former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, who was briefly placed under house arrest, was not purely an institutional decision. Praswad suspects intervention behind the decision taken by the KPK.

“It is difficult to ignore suspicions of political intervention in this decision. As a former KPK investigator who knows our colleagues in the agency well, we can guarantee one million percent their integrity,” Praswad said.

Praswad believes there was intervention from external parties against the KPK. He urged the KPK to be transparent and explain to the public about the parties involved in intervening in Yaqut’s detention transfer.

“This controversy would never have happened without political intervention. Therefore, the KPK must reveal who the ‘political cowboys’ are,” Praswad stated.

“The KPK must be honest and open to the public. If there is indeed intervention, the involved parties must be exposed openly. Deterrence should not only target corruptors but also the actors behind the scenes who try to influence the legal process,” he continued.

According to Praswad, house arrest can only be justified in two conditions: the need for intensive medical treatment that cannot be provided in the detention centre, or a serious threat to the detainee’s safety. Beyond that, Praswad said, there is no reason to justify granting such facilities, especially if oriented towards comfort.

Praswad assessed that loosening detention could undermine the objective reasons for detention, namely preventing repetition of criminal acts, destruction of evidence, and escape. Additionally, the case filing process could be hindered given that detention has a maximum time limit.

He also stated that the KPK’s apology is insufficient in explaining the controversy over Yaqut’s detention transfer. The KPK must be open in disclosing the chronology of the incident.

“This case is a serious test for the KPK. Public trust can only be restored through openness. Clearly revealing the intervening parties, and not covering up similar incidents in the future, is a crucial step,” Praswad remarked.

KPK Apologises

The KPK has expressed regret over the step to change the house arrest status for Yaqut in the 2023-2024 hajj quota corruption case. The apology was directly conveyed by KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu.

“We certainly, on this Eid holiday, apologise for the uproar that has occurred,” Asep stated to reporters at the KPK’s Merah Putih building in South Jakarta, as quoted on Friday (27/3).

Asep also claimed to have considered the impact of public reaction when placing Yaqut under house arrest. The KPK said the house arrest transfer was an institutional decision.

“Of course, in that meeting, such matters were also discussed,” Asep said.

Asep admitted to participating directly in the meeting determining the house arrest transfer. He said how the decision-making would be reported to the Supervisory Board (Dewas).

“I attended that meeting, I was one of those in the meeting there. So this will also be reported to the Dewas. Of course, the Supervisory Board will open up how that decision was made. Just wait,” he said.