Former Minister Dito Ariotedjo Re-examined by KPK in Hajj Quota Corruption Case

Former Youth and Sports Minister (Menpora) Dito Ariotedjo visited the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) headquarters in South Jakarta today for a second round of questioning as a witness in the alleged hajj quota corruption case within the Ministry of Religious Affairs for the 2023-2024 period. Dito arrived at the KPK building at 10.05 WIB and stated he was present to comply with the summons. “This is related to the hajj case. I didn’t bring anything,” Dito said. This examination follows his first questioning on 23 January, where he was investigated for three hours by KPK investigators. Dito is among the officials who travelled to Saudi Arabia when the additional hajj quota was agreed upon. He is being questioned regarding his knowledge of the additional 20,000 hajj quotas granted by the Saudi Arabian government to Indonesia. KPK has already named four suspects in the case: former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, his former special staff member Ishfah Abidal Aziz (Gus Alex), Operational Director of PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour) Ismail Adham, and Chairman of the Kesthuri Association Asrul Azis Taba. The anti-graft body suspects that Ismail and Asrul channelled money to Yaqut through the intermediary Gus Alex. Ismail allegedly handed over USD 30,000 to Gus Alex and a further USD 5,000 to the former Director General of Hajj and Umrah Implementation, Hilman Latief. The KPK has stated that the total state losses in the case amount to IDR 622 billion, a figure calculated by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK).