Gus Yaqut Returns to KPK, Grateful to Celebrate Eid at Home

Suspect in the alleged Hajj quota corruption case, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, has arrived back at the KPK’s Merah Putih Building in South Jakarta on Tuesday (24/3/2026). He openly expressed his gratitude for being able to celebrate Eid at home rather than in state detention (rutan). He took advantage of the house arrest moment to apologise to his mother during Eid. “Alhamdulillah, I could pay respects to my mother, to my ibunda,” said Yaqut at the KPK’s Merah Putih Building in Jakarta. When asked by journalists whether he could celebrate Eid at home due to a family request, Gus Yaqut confirmed it. “It was our request,” said the Minister of Religious Affairs for the 2020-2024 period. Gus Yaqut then walked towards the stairs to return to KPK detention. Previously, on 21 March 2026, the wife of the defendant in the alleged extortion corruption case and former deputy minister of manpower, Immanuel Ebenezer Gerungan, namely Silvia Rinita Harefa, spoke to the media after visiting her husband. Silvia told the journalists waiting for her that there was information circulating among the detainees about Gus Yaqut not being seen in the KPK detention. “Earlier, Gus Yaqut wasn’t seen, apparently. The info is that he left on Thursday night (19/3/2026),” said Silvia on Saturday (21/3/2026) afternoon WIB. She claimed to have received information that Gus Yaqut was also not seen during the Eid al-Fitr prayer on 21 March 2026. “According to people inside, he wasn’t there. He wasn’t present,” said Silvia. When further confirmed whether only Ebenezer knew about this information, she stated that all detainees knew. “Everyone knew about it. They were just wondering. Apparently there was an examination, but it’s impossible to have an examination on the eve of Takbiran night,” she said.