Former Religious Affairs Minister's Staffer Arrested by KPK in Hajj Quota Corruption Case
Ishfah Abidal Aziz (Gus Alex), staffer to former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, has been formally detained by the Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) as a suspect in connection with alleged corruption involving additional hajj quotas. The detention was carried out on Tuesday, 17 March.
Surveillance by CNN Indonesia at KPK’s Red-White Building showed Gus Alex emerging from questioning around 14.45 WIB, wearing the distinctive orange detention uniform with handcuffs. He was escorted by KPK and police officers.
Regarding his detention, Gus Alex expressed appreciation for the legal process underway. “I appreciate the legal process that is ongoing. I have conveyed many matters. Hopefully we can find justice and the truth,” he said whilst being led to the detention vehicle from KPK’s Red-White Building in Jakarta on Tuesday, 17 March.
Gus Alex stated he received no orders from the former Religious Affairs Minister, who is also a suspect in this case, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas. “There were no orders whatsoever from Gus Yaqut,” he said.
Regarding details of the case, Gus Alex stated he had conveyed many matters to investigators. “I have conveyed everything to the investigators; much has already been conveyed. Go directly to the investigators and my legal team. Thank you,” he said.
Gus Alex played several important roles in this case. During the filling of the special additional hajj quota for 2023, it is alleged that fees requested by the government through Gus Alex and Yaqut amounted to approximately USD 4,000-5,000 (Rp67.5 million-Rp84.4 million) per pilgrim to hajj travel agencies. These fees were subsequently passed on to pilgrims.
When information emerged that parliament would establish a special hajj committee around July 2024, Gus Alex allegedly ordered the subdirectorate to return the collected fees to the associations and hajj travel agencies.
In November 2023, communication occurred between the Indonesian Hajj Affairs Office technical staff in Jeddah and Gus Alex regarding the 2024 Indonesian hajj quota entered into the e-hajj application being only 221,000 rather than 241,000.
Upon receiving this information, Gus Alex conveyed that the additional 20,000 quota would be divided 50:50, which he did based on directions from Yaqut Cholil Qoumas in his capacity as Religious Affairs Minister.
In this case, both Yaqut and Gus Alex have been designated as suspects by the KPK. Yaqut was detained earlier by the KPK for 20 days.
During the ongoing investigation, the KPK has conducted searches at several locations including Yaqut’s residence in Condet, East Jakarta; hajj and umrah travel agency offices in Jakarta; civil service housing in Depok; and the directorate general office for hajj and umrah services at the Religious Affairs Ministry.
Substantial evidence allegedly related to the case has been seized, including documents, electronic evidence, motor vehicles, and property.
According to calculations by the state financial audit board (BPK), the state is alleged to have suffered losses of Rp622.090.207.166,41 (Rp622 billion) from the alleged corruption case involving additional hajj quotas for the 2023 and 2024 pilgrimages.