Former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas Officially Detained by Corruption Eradication Commission
Jakarta — Former Religious Affairs Minister and hajj quota corruption suspect Yaqut Cholil Qoumas has been officially detained by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
As he was led towards the detention vehicle, Yaqut denied receiving any money from the hajj quota case and stated that he prioritised the safety of hajj pilgrims.
“I never received a single rupiah from the case that has been alleged against me, and I implemented all of these policies solely for the safety of pilgrims. That is what I can convey,” Yaqut said at the KPK’s Red-and-White Building in Jakarta on Thursday.
Earlier, on 9 August 2025, the KPK announced it had begun investigating alleged corruption in the determination of hajj quotas and the administration of hajj worship at the Religious Affairs Ministry during 2023–2024.
On 11 August 2025, the KPK announced preliminary calculations of state losses in the case totalling more than Rp1 trillion and imposed travel bans on three individuals for the next six months. Those banned from travelling abroad were Yaqut, Ishfah Abidal Aziz (IAA) alias Gus Alex, who served as Yaqut’s staff, and Fuad Hasan Masyhur, who owned the hajj organising agency Maktour.
On 9 January 2026, the KPK announced that two of the three individuals subject to travel bans had become suspects in the alleged hajj quota corruption case: Yaqut and Gus Alex.
However, Yaqut filed a pre-trial motion against his designation as a suspect at 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 it had extended the travel ban for only Yaqut and Gus Alex. Fuad’s ban was not extended.
On 27 February 2026, the KPK announced it had received an audit from the Indonesian Supreme Audit Agency (BPK RI) regarding state financial losses resulting from the hajj quota case. On 4 March 2026, the KPK announced that state financial losses from the case totalled Rp622 billion.
On 11 March 2026, the South Jakarta District Court judges rejected Yaqut’s pre-trial motion.