Gus Alex Officially Detained by Antigraft Commission, Following Former Religious Affairs Minister in Hajj Quota Case
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has officially detained former Special Staff to the Religious Affairs Minister, Ishfah Abidal Aziz, commonly known as Gus Alex, on Tuesday, 17 March 2026. Gus Alex follows his former superior, Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, who was previously remanded in custody in connection with an alleged corruption case involving hajj quotas in 2023-2024.
At the KPK’s Red and White Building, Gus Alex was observed exiting in orange detention clothing with his hands shackled. Speaking to media representatives, he stated that he would cooperate fully with the applicable legal procedures.
“I respect the legal process that is currently underway. We have already provided extensive statements to investigators. Hopefully we can find justice and the truth,” Gus Alex stated on Tuesday, 17 March.
The case involving Gus Alex originated from a KPK investigation launched on 9 August 2025 concerning the manipulation of Indonesia’s hajj quota. Following an extensive audit process, the State Audit Board (BPK) confirmed that state financial losses from the scandal reached Rp622 billion.
Previously, the KPK had designated two main suspects, namely Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and Ishfah Abidal Aziz, on 9 January 2026. Yaqut had attempted legal resistance through a pretrial motion at the South Jakarta District Court, but the judge rejected all his requests on 11 March 2026.
Gus Alex’s detention came five days after Yaqut Cholil Qoumas was detained on 12 March. The KPK also issued a travel ban affecting several individuals, including Fuad Hasan Masyhur, owner of the Maktour hajj organising bureau, although this ban was subsequently not extended.
KPK investigators are now focused on completing case files for both suspects to enable swift prosecution. The case has drawn significant public attention owing to the substantial scale of state losses and its implications for governance in Indonesia’s hajj administration.