Former Minister's Aide Gus Alex Detained by KPK Following Ex-Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut
Jakarta – Ishfah Abidal Aziz (IAA), commonly known as Gus Alex, a former special staff member to the Minister of Religious Affairs, has been detained by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), following the detention of former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.
Gus Alex was detained after being designated as a suspect in the hajj quota corruption case alongside Yaqut.
“I respect the legal process that is currently underway,” stated Gus Alex at the KPK’s Red and White Building in Jakarta on Tuesday.
He went on to say that he had already provided extensive statements to KPK investigators and expressed hope of obtaining justice.
“Hopefully, we can find justice and the truth,” he said.
The KPK initiated an investigation into the alleged corruption case related to Indonesia’s hajj quota for 2023-2024 on 9 August 2025.
On 11 August 2025, the KPK announced that preliminary calculations of state financial losses in the case reached over Rp1 trillion, and imposed overseas travel restrictions on three individuals for up to six months. These individuals were Yaqut, Ishfah Abidal Aziz (Gus Alex) as Yaqut’s staff member, and Fuad Hasan Masyhur, the owner of the hajj organising bureau Maktour.
On 9 January 2026, the KPK announced that two of the three individuals subject to travel restrictions had become suspects in the alleged hajj quota corruption case: Yaqut and Gus Alex.
However, Yaqut filed a pre-trial motion challenging his designation as a suspect with the South Jakarta District Court on 10 February 2026, registered under case number 19/Pid.Pra/2026/PN JKT.SEL.
On 19 February 2026, the KPK announced an extension of overseas travel restrictions for Yaqut and Gus Alex only, whilst Fuad’s restriction was not extended.
On 27 February 2026, the KPK announced it had received an audit from the State Audit Board (BPK) regarding state financial losses resulting from the hajj quota case. Subsequently, on 4 March 2026, the KPK announced that state financial losses from the case had reached Rp622 billion.
On 11 March 2026, the South Jakarta District Court panel of judges rejected Yaqut’s pre-trial motion.
On 12 March 2026, the KPK detained Yaqut at the State Detention Centre, KPK Red and White Building Branch.