KPK announces Yaqut is being processed for return to detention in state detention centre
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has announced that Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (YCQ), the suspect in the alleged Hajj quota corruption case and former Minister of Religious Affairs, is being processed for return to state detention or rutan.
“Today, Monday, 23 March 2026, the KPK is carrying out the process of changing the type of detention for suspect YCQ in the alleged criminal corruption case of the Hajj quota, namely from house arrest back to KPK detention,” said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to journalists in Jakarta on Monday.
Budi said the KPK will continue to inform the public about developments in the transfer.
“We convey our thanks to all Indonesian people who continue to monitor and support the KPK in handling this case. We will keep updating on the developments,” he said.
Previously, on 21 March 2026, the wife of the defendant in the alleged extortion corruption case and former Deputy Minister of Manpower Immanuel Ebenezer Gerungan, Silvia Rinita Harefa, spoke to journalists after visiting her husband.
Silvia told the journalists waiting for her that information was circulating among the detainees about Yaqut not being seen in the state detention centre or rutan.
“I didn’t see Gus Yaqut earlier. The info is that he left on Thursday night (19/3),” said Silvia on Saturday (21/3) afternoon.
She continued that she had received information that Yaqut was also not seen during the Eid al-Fitr prayers on 21 March 2026.
“People inside said he wasn’t there. He wasn’t there,” she said.
When further questioned whether only Ebenezer knew this information, she stated that all detainees knew.
“Everyone knows about it. They’re just wondering. They said there was an examination, but it’s impossible to have an examination on the eve of Takbiran night. Even until today (Saturday, 21/3), there wasn’t any,” she said.
Therefore, she suggested that journalists verify the information she received.
“You guys try to get more info. That’s the info,” she said.
On Saturday night (21/3), the KPK confirmed to Silvia that Yaqut Cholil had been on house arrest since the night of 19 March 2026.
Yaqut Cholil became subject to house arrest after his family requested it from the KPK on 17 March 2026. The KPK ensured that Yaqut would still be monitored.
It is known that Yaqut Cholil was named as one of the suspects in the alleged corruption case related to Indonesia’s Hajj quota for 2023-2024 by the KPK on 9 January 2026.
On 12 March 2026, the KPK detained Yaqut in the KPK’s Red White Building Branch State Detention Centre after his pre-trial was rejected on 11 March 2026. The case is said by the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPK) of Indonesia to have caused state losses of up to Rp622 billion.