KPK alleges former religion minister Yaqut received expedited Hajj fees during 2023-2024
Jakarta — Indonesia’s anti-corruption commission (KPK) alleges that former Religion Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (YCQ) received payments for expedited Hajj services during two years of pilgrimage operations in 2023-2024 (1444-1445 Islamic calendar).
KPK deputy for prosecution and execution Asep Guntur Rahayu explained that the 2023 expedited Hajj fees received by Yaqut were collected by the head of the Religion Ministry’s special Hajj licensing, accreditation, and development subdivision, Rizky Fisa Abadi (RFA).
“Based on the KPK investigation team’s findings, RFA distributed the expedited Hajj fees to YCQ, IAA (Ishfah Abidal Aziz, also known as Gus Alex, who was Yaqut’s special staff at that time), as well as several officials at the Religion Ministry,” Asep said at a press conference in Jakarta on Friday.
For 2023, the cost of expedited special Hajj per pilgrim was set at up to 5,000 US dollars, or approximately 84 million rupiah at current exchange rates.
Meanwhile, the 2024 expedited Hajj fees were set at 2,500 US dollars, or approximately 42 million rupiah, and were collected by M. Agus Syafi’, who was the subdivision head of licensing, accreditation, and special Hajj development at the Religion Ministry at that time.
The expedited special Hajj service refers to additional fees allowing prospective Hajj pilgrims to depart more quickly upon registration, bypassing their queue position.
On 9 August 2025, the KPK announced it had begun investigating allegations of corruption related to Indonesia’s Hajj quota for 2023-2024. On 11 August 2025, the KPK announced preliminary calculations showed state losses exceeding 1 trillion rupiah and imposed travel bans on three individuals for six months. Those banned were Yaqut, Ishfah Abidal Aziz (IAA), also known as Gus Alex, and Fuad Hasan Masyhur, the owner of Maktour Hajj travel agency.
On 9 January 2026, the KPK announced two of the three banned individuals had become suspects in the alleged Hajj quota corruption case: Yaqut and Gus Alex. However, Yaqut filed a pre-trial motion challenging the suspect designation at South Jakarta District Court on 10 February 2026, registered as case number 19/Pid.Pra/2026/PN JKT.SEL.
On 19 February 2026, the KPK announced it had extended the travel ban for only Yaqut and Gus Alex, whilst Fuad’s ban was not extended. On 27 February 2026, the KPK announced it had received an audit from the state auditor (BPK) RI regarding state financial losses from the Hajj quota case. On 4 March 2026, the KPK announced state financial losses from the case amounted to 622 billion rupiah.
On 11 March 2026, the South Jakarta District Court judges rejected Yaqut’s pre-trial motion. On 12 March 2026, the KPK detained Yaqut at the Red and White Building detention facility of the KPK.