Former KPK Investigators Call Transfer of Yaqut's Detention a Bizarre Decision by the Commission

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Several former investigators from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) have deemed the transfer of detention for former Minister of Religious Affairs (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas as a bizarre practice.

“This is an event that has never occurred throughout the history of the KPK’s existence. This practice is not only bizarre but also opens up grey areas in the standards of law enforcement that have been strictly maintained by the KPK,” said former KPK investigator Praswad Nugraha, when contacted by Kompas.com on Monday (23/3/2026).

Praswad stated that this detention transfer sets a bad precedent for the KPK’s anti-corruption efforts.

Because other KPK detainees might apply for similar requests, and the KPK would need to provide the same treatment.

He considers this house detention status to provide room for the suspect to conduct conditioning and even intervene with other parties.

“The house detention status realistically provides space for the suspect to consolidate strength, arrange strategies, and even seek interventions from external parties to escape the clutches of the law,” said Praswad.

Yudi Purnomo expressed a similar view.

As a former KPK investigator, Yudi has been observing the legal process in the alleged hajj quota corruption case from the beginning.

According to him, the transfer of Yaqut’s detention proves the irregularities in handling this case.

He believes that the KPK should now have forwarded Yaqut’s case file to the next stage.

Moreover, the calculation of state losses has already been conducted by the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPK RI).

“When the KPK has carried out detention, the KPK should already be firm on a case and immediately forward the case file to the court. That is why detention is carried out,” Yudi added.