Investigators and KPK Officials Who Allowed Yaqut to Become House Detainee Must Be Examined
The suspect in the alleged hajj quota corruption case, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (Gus Yaqut), is currently under the spotlight because his status has changed to house arrest since 19 March 2026. The former Minister of Religious Affairs became a house detainee after his family requested it from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on 17 March 2026.
However, this only came to light on 21 March 2026. The KPK confirmed the truth of Gus Yaqut’s status. The KPK even stated that other detainees in the State Detention Centre or KPK Branch Detention Centre could apply for house arrest like Gus Yaqut.
In response, Chairman of Exponen 08, M. Damar, called on the KPK Supervisory Board or other authorised parties to immediately examine the policy. Because it could undermine President Prabowo Subianto’s commitment to eradicating corruption.
“In this case, the KPK Supervisory Board or whoever is authorised should immediately investigate. Because it harms President Prabowo’s commitment to eradicating corruption,” he said in his statement on Sunday (22/3/2026).
Damar requested that the KPK Supervisory Board and all authorised institutions immediately investigate all investigators and KPK officials authorised to grant the permission. “Investigate all investigators and KPK officials authorised who granted the permission. This harms the President’s commitment to eradicating corruption,” he stated.
He also assessed that the KPK’s decision could set a bad precedent in eradicating corruption cases and damage the integrity of the KPK that has been built over time.
Moreover, this determination is highly unusual because it was not known to the public for a while. According to him, the KPK should explain to the public regarding Gus Yaqut’s status and reasons for becoming a house detainee.
“Because as a suspect, he has the potential to eliminate evidence and influence witness statements if not detained in the KPK Detention Centre,” he said.
Damar continued that what the KPK did to Gus Yaqut in granting house arrest status could impact the legal processes of other corruption cases currently underway at the KPK. According to him, it is not impossible for other detainees to demand similar treatment to Yaqut.
“In my view, this could damage the integrity and system of corruption eradication at the KPK. Especially since the public only learned about it later, when a detainee’s family conveyed to the public that Gus Yaqut was not in detention,” he said.
As is known, the KPK shifted the detention of former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas to house arrest. Yaqut received that status after 7 days of detention in the KPK Detention Centre.
The change in Yaqut’s detention status was also not first announced by the KPK. Yaqut’s absence from the KPK Detention Centre was initially revealed by the wife of former Deputy Minister of Manpower Immanuel Ebenezer (Noel), Silvia Rinita Harefa, after visiting Noel during Eid on Saturday (21/3/2026).
After the testimony from Noel’s wife became widely discussed, the KPK finally spoke out to explain Yaqut’s whereabouts. On Saturday night (21/3), KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo said that Yaqut is currently under house arrest.
“It is true, the investigators carried out a change in the type of detention for the suspect Brother YCQ, from detention in the KPK Detention Centre to house arrest, since Thursday night (19/3) last,” said Budi on Saturday (21/3).
No detailed reasons were explained for why the request was granted. The KPK only stated that house arrest for Yaqut is temporary.
Budi also stated that the shift in Yaqut’s detention to house arrest was not due to health factors; it was decided after the KPK received a request from the family. The KPK then granted the request without providing further details on the family’s reasons for applying.
“Not because of illness. So indeed because there was a request from the family, then we processed it,” Budi explained.
Executive Director of Lingkar Madani (LiMA), Ray Rangkuti, criticised the KPK’s policy of granting house arrest status to the suspect in the hajj quota corruption case, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.
The KPK guarantees that shifting the detention status of former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas to house arrest will not disrupt the legal process of the 2024 hajj quota corruption case.
KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo stated that the change in detention status of former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas from Detention Centre to house arrest is temporary.
Former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas is now under house arrest. ICW assesses it as very risky because there is potential for eliminating evidence in the hajj quota corruption case.
ICW urges the KPK Supervisory Board to examine the leadership of the anti-corruption agency after shifting the detention status of former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas from detention centre to house arrest.
All data and findings will later be thoroughly tested in the trial process.
Gus Alex’s first role in this case was to coordinate the implementation of special hajj worship (PIHK) in Indonesia for the distribution of additional quotas.