KPK Absent, Gus Yaqut's Pre-Trial Hearing in Hajj Quota Case Postponed to 3 March
The inaugural pre-trial hearing challenging the Corruption Eradication Commission’s (KPK) designation of former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas — commonly known as Gus Yaqut — as a suspect in the 2024 hajj quota corruption case has been postponed. The adjournment was ordered after the KPK, as respondent, failed to appear in court.
The hearing was presided over by Judge Sulistyo Muhammad Dwi Putro. Judge Sulistyo initially confirmed the attendance of the petitioner’s side, including former minister Gus Yaqut himself.
“Today, most parties are present, Your Honour,” said Gus Yaqut’s lawyer, Mellisa Anggraini, at the hearing in the South Jakarta District Court on Tuesday (24 February 2026).
The judge then informed the court that the KPK had requested a postponement. The pre-trial hearing was ultimately adjourned until 3 March.
“We shall postpone the hearing for one week to 3 March 2026. We will summon the KPK for a second and final time,” said Judge Sulistyo.
“Under the Criminal Procedure Code, there are two opportunities — under Law 20 of 2025, if the KPK does not appear on 3 March, the hearing will proceed regardless,” he added.
Yaqut was designated as a suspect by the KPK in connection with the alleged corruption involving hajj quotas. He subsequently filed a pre-trial challenge against that designation.
On Tuesday 10 February, Yaqut lodged the pre-trial petition at the South Jakarta District Court, contesting the validity of his suspect status. The petition was registered under case number 19/Pid.Pra/2026/PN JKT.SEL, with Yaqut as petitioner and the KPK and its leadership as respondents.
The corruption case relates to the distribution of an additional 20,000 places in the 2024 hajj quota during Yaqut’s tenure as Religious Affairs Minister. The supplementary allocation was intended to reduce the waiting list for regular Indonesian hajj pilgrims, which can extend beyond 20 years.
Prior to the additional allocation, Indonesia received a hajj quota of 221,000 pilgrims for 2024. With the supplement, the total rose to 241,000. The controversy began when the additional quota was divided equally — 10,000 for regular hajj and 10,000 for special hajj.
However, the Hajj Law stipulates that the special hajj quota may not exceed 8 per cent of Indonesia’s total hajj allocation. Ultimately, Indonesia used 213,320 places for regular hajj pilgrims and 27,680 for special hajj pilgrims in 2024.
The KPK has stated that the policy under Yaqut’s watch caused 8,400 regular hajj pilgrims — who had been waiting more than 14 years and should have been able to depart following the additional quota allocation in 2024 — to miss their opportunity to travel.
Following its investigation, the KPK designated both Yaqut and his former special staff member, Ishfah Abidal Aziz (also known as Gus Alex), as suspects. The commission has affirmed it possesses substantial evidence supporting the suspect designations. Yaqut has not yet been detained.