Former PBNU Chairman Gus Yahya Attends Hajj Quota Trial Involving Yaqut

The former Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU), Yahya Cholil Staquf, attended the trial for the alleged corruption case regarding additional Hajj quotas for 2023-2024, which involves his brother, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, the former Minister of Religious Affairs for the 2019-2024 period, at the Corruption Court of the Central Jakarta District Court on Thursday (3/9).

Yahya arrived at 17:47 WIB while the trial was adjourned for prayer time. He did not provide a statement to the press and was seen following Yaqut, who was being taken to the detention room in the court’s basement.

On this day, Prosecutors from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) presented four witnesses for examination before the panel of judges. Three witnesses were from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, while the fourth was a representative from a Hajj and Umrah travel agency.

The four witnesses were the former Director of Umrah and Hajj Development at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Jaja Jaelani; the former Head of the Bureau of Law and International Cooperation at the Ministry of Religious Affairs for the 2021-2024 period, Ahmad Bahiej; a staff member of the Bureau of Hajj and Umrah Implementation, Deni Sefianto; and a staff member of the Pesona Mozaik travel agency, Nur Faidzin, also known as Nanang.

There are four defendants being legally processed in this case regarding the alleged corruption of additional Hajj quotas for 2023-2024, with estimated state losses amounting to Rp622,090,070,166.41 (approximately Rp622 billion).

The defendants include the former Minister of Religious Affairs for the 2019-2024 period, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas; Yaqut’s Special Staff, Ishfah Abidal Azis, also known as Gus Alex; the Operational Director of Maktour, Ismail Adham; and the Chairman of the Kesthuri Association, who is also a Commissioner of PT Raudah Eksati Utama, Asrul Azis Taba.

The figure for state losses in this case is based on the Investigative Audit Result Report from the Audit Board of the Republic of Indonesia (BPK RI).

The alleged corruption case is also suspected of enriching several other parties, including 313 Special Hajj Organisers (PIHK).