Hajj Quota Case: KPK States Gus Alex Represents Former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut
JAKARTA — The Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has stated that Ishfah Abidal Aziz, known as Gus Alex, a former special staff member to Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, acted as Yaqut’s representative in an alleged corruption case involving the 2023-2024 hajj quota.
Asep Guntur Rahayu, Deputy for Prosecution and Execution at the KPK, noted that Gus Alex played a dominant role in collecting acceleration fees for special hajj services from Special Hajj Organisers (PIHK).
“Gus Alex was a special staff member of Yaqut, so officials at that time believed that what Gus Alex conveyed, being considered as representing Yaqut, was an order from Yaqut,” Asep stated during a press conference on Friday (13 March 2026).
Investigators believe that the money collected by Gus Alex was allegedly to be handed over to Yaqut and used for various purposes. Asep noted that investigators also found indications that Gus Alex’s actions allegedly occurred under Yaqut’s orders and with his knowledge.
“This is corroborated by other statements and evidence, including electronic evidence and other physical evidence,” Asep said, adding that Yaqut has been called in for questioning the following week.
Following his examination, the KPK decided to detain Yaqut for the initial 20 days, from 12 to 31 March 2026.
Yaqut is alleged to have instructed the Director General of Hajj and Umrah Implementation, Hilman Latief, to adjust the additional hajj quota allocation from 92 per cent for regular hajj and 8 per cent for special hajj to proportional shares of 50 per cent each.
The order was reportedly given by Yaqut following a meeting with Fuad Hasan Masyur, Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Travel Association Forum for Hajj and Umrah (Forum SATHU), in November 2023.
Asep stated that Yaqut subsequently instructed Hilman to conduct a simulation that could serve as justification or basis for changing the additional quota composition to 10,000 regular hajj slots and 10,000 special hajj slots.
In late December 2023, Religious Affairs Minister Decree Number 1156 concerning the 1445 Hijri/2023 Gregorian Calendar Additional Hajj Quota was issued, dividing the additional quota equally at 10,000 each.
“However, Yaqut’s decision was not widely distributed among the Hajj and Umrah Implementation Directorate; only certain individuals were aware of this ministerial decree,” Asep explained.
In this case, Yaqut is charged with violating Article 2 paragraph (1) and/or Article 3 read together with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption Offences as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001, as well as Article 55 paragraph (1) first clause of the old Criminal Code (KUHP).