Former Religion Minister Yaqut Set Hajj Acceleration Fee at 42 Million Rupiah per Pilgrim in 2024
Jakarta — The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has revealed evidence of hajj acceleration fees imposed by former Religion Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas on pilgrims in 2024.
KPK Deputy for Prosecution and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu stated that Yaqut allegedly instructed his special staff member Ishfah Abidal Aziz (IAA), known as Gus Alex, to collect funds from Special Hajj Implementation Providers (PIHK).
In 2024, Gus Alex communicated with the Director of Hajj Services at the Directorate General of Hajj and Umrah, M Agus Syafi’i (MAS), to develop a simulation scheme for regular and special hajj services on a 50:50 split basis. During these discussions, Gus Alex directed the collection of hajj acceleration fees from PIHK providers.
“Gus Alex ordered MAS to demand money from PIHK providers, which was ultimately charged to prospective special hajj pilgrims—at minimum USD 2,500 (approximately Rp 42.2 million) per pilgrim as a fee, commitment fee, or other charge—in order to obtain additional special hajj quota allocations, known as T0 or TX quota,” Asep explained.
Asep stated that investigators found evidence suggesting that Gus Alex’s actions allegedly occurred under Yaqut’s direct instructions and with his knowledge. “This is supported by other testimonies and evidence, including electronic records and physical documentation,” Asep said.
He elaborated that officials understood Gus Alex’s communications as representing Yaqut’s direct orders, given his position as special staff. “If I want to give money to person A and there is a representative of person B, it is not necessary to go directly to A—one can simply give it to B because that is equivalent to giving it to A,” Asep noted.
Yaqut allegedly instructed the Director General of Hajj and Umrah Implementation Hilman Latief to reallocate additional hajj quota from 92 per cent for regular hajj and 8 per cent for special hajj to a proportional 50:50 split. This order came after Yaqut met with Fuad Hasan Masyur, Chairman of the Forum Silaturahmi Association of Hajj and Umrah Travel (Forum SATHU), in November 2023.