Former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Formally Detained by Anti-Corruption Commission in Orange Custody Vest

Former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas was formally detained by the Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) on Thursday, 12 March 2026, following the court’s rejection of his pre-trial legal challenge.

Yaqut exited the examination room at 18:48 WIB with his hands handcuffed, covered by a batik-patterned file. He was then escorted by the KPK team to a detention vehicle bound for the KPK Detention Centre at the Red-and-White Building in Jakarta.

Whilst being taken to the detention vehicle, Yaqut declared: “I have never received a single rupiah from the case allegations against me.”

The former minister was first designated as a suspect in early January 2026. He subsequently challenged his suspect status through a pre-trial legal motion, but the judge rejected his challenge. The court ruled that the KPK’s designation of Yaqut as a suspect was procedurally sound and compliant with applicable regulations.