Judge Rejects Pre-Trial Motion of Former Religion Minister Yaqut in Hajj Quota Corruption Case

Jakarta — A single judge at Jakarta’s South District Court has rejected a pre-trial motion filed by former Religion Minister (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas regarding his status as a suspect in a hajj quota corruption case.

The judge stated that Yaqut’s suspect designation already met the minimum requirement of two pieces of valid evidence. “Considering that the respondent established the applicant as a suspect after gathering clarity of the criminal offence based on two pieces of evidence, namely exhibits T-4 through T-117 and supported by exhibits T-135 and T-136. Therefore, the establishment of the applicant as a suspect has met the requirements,” said single judge Sulistyo Muhamad Dwi Putro at Jakarta’s South District Court on Wednesday, 11 March 2026.

The judge stated that Yaqut’s suspect designation complied with Article 1, paragraph 31 of Law Number 20 of 2025. The judge noted that pre-trial proceedings only evaluate the formal aspects of the application. “Considering that the Constitutional Court Decision Number 21 of 2014 affirms that suspect designation must be based on a minimum of two pieces of valid evidence. Pre-trial examination only evaluates formal aspects, namely whether there are at least two pieces of valid evidence and does not enter into the substance of the case,” the judge explained.

The judge dismissed several pieces of evidence submitted by Yaqut as not relevant for serving as a legal basis. One example was a collection of news articles related to the case, as these were merely informational in nature.

Previously, it was reported that Jakarta’s South District Court rejected a pre-trial motion from former Religion Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas regarding his suspect status in an alleged hajj quota corruption case investigated by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

This was announced by single judge Sulistyo Muhamad Dwi Putro in the verdict hearing held at Jakarta’s South District Court on Wednesday, 11 March 2026 in the afternoon. “In the principal matter, [the court] rejects the pre-trial motion of the pre-trial applicant in its entirety,” said single judge Sulistyo when reading out the decision.

With this verdict, the suspect status of the hajj quota corruption case that ensnared former Religion Minister Yaqut remains valid.