Hundreds of Banser Activists Storm KPK to Reject Detention of Yaqut Cholil Qoumas
Hundreds of members from Barisan Ansor Serbaguna (Banser) and Ansor Youth converged on the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) headquarters on Jalan Raya Kuningan in South Jakarta on Thursday afternoon, 12 March, in a mass protest opposing the investigation of former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, who had been designated as a suspect.
During their speeches, the protesters claimed that Yaqut was a victim of legal criminalisation. They asserted that Yaqut was an exemplary cadre who could not possibly be involved in corruption related to the organisation of the hajj pilgrimage.
The demonstrators also issued threats to mobilise large numbers of protesters if the legal process against Yaqut continued. They stated they would oversee the process through to completion.
“We warn that we will mobilise seven million Banser and Ansor members to occupy the KPK building if our best cadre is criminalised,” declared one orator at the scene.
The protest caused complete traffic paralysis on Jalan Raya Kuningan Persada as the roadway was blocked by demonstrators who had been arriving continuously since 16:30.
Yaqut Cholil Qoumas underwent intensive examination from 13:00 onwards. He was questioned regarding allegations of corruption involving additional hajj quotas and the organisation of pilgrimage and umrah (lesser pilgrimage) activities in 2024 by the Ministry of Religion.
The KPK was reported to move forward with his detention immediately after evening prayers. The anti-corruption agency also planned to hold a press conference to detail the case construction against the former minister.
Previously, Yaqut’s attempt to overturn his suspect status through a pretrial motion failed. The single judge at South Jakarta District Court, Sulistyo Muhammad Dwi Putro, rejected all of Yaqut’s submissions on Wednesday, 11 March. The judge found that the KPK’s designation of suspect status complied with legal procedures and was supported by a minimum of two valid pieces of evidence.
In this case, the KPK suspected significant state losses. Yaqut faced charges alongside his former Special Staff, Ishfah Abidal Aziz (nicknamed Gus Alex), under Articles 2 and 3 of the Law on Corruption Offences.
At the time of reporting, the KPK had recorded approximately 100 billion rupiah in state funds returned by related parties in the hajj quota corruption case. Examinations within the KPK building were continuing under tight police supervision.