Hajj Case: KPK Suspects Gus Alex Received USD 30,000; Dirjen PHU Kemenag USD 5,000
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has revealed financial flows in the alleged corruption case concerning the 2023-2024 Hajj quota. The KPK states that there were fund transfers from Ismail Adham (ISM), the Operational Director of Maktour, to state officials.
KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution, Asep Guntur Rahayu, stated that Ismail is suspected of giving money to Isfah Abidal Azis (IAA), alias Gus Alex, who was the former special staff to ex-Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (YCQ), amounting to USD 30,000.
Additionally, Asep said that Ismail handed over money to Hilman Latief (HL), the Director General of Hajj and Umrah Organisation (Dirjen PHU) at the Ministry of Religious Affairs in 2024, amounting to USD 5,000.
“The suspect ISM is suspected of giving a sum of money to IAA amounting to USD 30,000, as well as to Mr HL, as the Director General of Hajj and Umrah Organisation of the Dirjen PHU at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, amounting to USD 5,000 and 16,000 SAR,” said Asep during a press conference at the KPK building in South Jakarta on Monday (30/3/2026).
Asep stated that the money given by Ismail to Gus Alex and Hilman Latief enabled Maktour to obtain unjust or illegal gains. That year, said Asep, the illegal gains obtained by Maktour reached Rp 27.8 billion.
“For their actions, PT Makassar Toraja Maktour obtained unjust or illegal gains in 2024 amounting to around Rp 27.8 billion; this is the result of the state financial loss calculation conducted by auditors,” Asep explained.
Meanwhile, suspect Asrul Azis Taba (ASR), as Chairman of Kesthuri, is suspected of also giving a sum of money to Gus Alex amounting to USD 406,000 from the additional quota provided. Asep said that from the additional quota given, it benefited eight Hajj special pilgrimage organisers (PIHK).
“Meanwhile, suspect ISR is suspected of giving a sum of money to Mr IAA amounting to USD 406,000. From that giving, eight special Hajj organisers (PHK) affiliated with suspect ISR also obtained unjust gains in 2024 totalling Rp 40.8 billion; this is also the result of the calculation by auditors,” Asep clarified.
He mentioned that Gus Alex and Hilman represented Yaqut when receiving the money from Ismail and Asrul. Because, he said, Yaqut had appointed both of them to handle matters from the PIHKs.
“The receipt of a sum of money by IAA and HL from the suspects is suspected to be as representation from Mr YCQ, who was the Religious Affairs Minister at the time, because you should know that Mr IAA was a special staff member, and on several occasions Mr YCQ always stated that for any matters, go directly to Mr IAA,” he added.
Asep conveyed that the determination of these two new suspects also strengthens the suspicion of fund flows to Hilman Latief. He said that the evidence obtained reinforces the involvement of private parties.
“Indeed, after confirmation from both Mr HL and the person we designated as a suspect tonight, they stated that there was indeed a flow of funds. This proves that there is a kickback, a flow of funds from private parties to unscrupulous individuals in the Ministry of Religious Affairs,” he explained.
“So this is evidence to strengthen what was suspected by the investigators against the previous suspects; the two previous suspects are strengthened by the designation tonight of two suspects from the private sector who gave a sum of money to unscrupulous individuals in the Ministry of Religious Affairs,” he continued.