ICW Urges KPK Oversight Board to Examine Leadership Over Controversy Surrounding Yaqut's Detention Status
Jakarta - Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) has urged the Oversight Board (Dewas) of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to examine the KPK leadership and its subordinates regarding the controversy over the transfer of detention status for former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.
The statement was made by the Head of ICW’s Legal and Investigation Division, Wana Alamsyah, in response to several reports submitted to the KPK Oversight Board regarding the controversy.
“ICW urges the Oversight Board to conduct an examination of the KPK leadership and parties suspected of being involved in the transfer of YCQ (Yaqut) detention,” Wana said via text message on Sunday (29/3/2026).
This includes allegations of intervention from external parties.
Boyamin stated that there were several key complaints submitted to the KPK Oversight Board.
One of them is that the KPK leadership is suspected of allowing external interference without reporting it to the Oversight Board.
Lawyer for former Deputy Minister of Manpower Immanuel Ebenezer, alias Noel, also reported the KPK leadership and its subordinates to the Oversight Board regarding this matter.
It is known that Yaqut’s detention status was temporarily transferred to house arrest on 19 March 2026, after previously being held at the KPK Detention Centre since 12 March 2026 following his designation as a suspect.
The transfer was made at the request of his family and was only announced by the KPK on 21 March 2026, coinciding with Eid al-Fitr 1447 H.
However, just a few days later, the KPK transferred Yaqut’s detention status back to the detention centre effective 23 March 2026.
Upon arriving at the KPK’s Red and White Building on 24 March 2026, Yaqut claimed that the transfer to house arrest was at his request.
He also expressed gratitude for being able to use the opportunity to pay respects to his mother during Eid al-Fitr.
In this case, Yaqut is charged as a suspect in the alleged corruption of the 2023-2024 Hajj quota, with state losses amounting to Rp 622 billion.