KPK Apologises for Uproar Over Transfer of Detention for Former Minister Yaqut
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has apologised for the uproar caused by the transfer of detention status for former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas to house arrest.
The apology was conveyed by KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu at the KPK’s Merah Putih Building in Jakarta on Thursday (26/3).
“On this occasion… we apologise… for the uproar and so on,” Asep said.
The two-star police general claimed that the polemic over Yaqut’s detention transfer, which drew sharp criticism, has significantly contributed to the progress of the investigation.
“It was mentioned earlier by colleagues that there is disappointment from the public. In fact, that is a form of support for us. We are very grateful to the Indonesian public. This means that with the information provided to us and such support, it proves that today we can accelerate,” Asep said.
“Yesterday, Mr YCQ [Yaqut Cholil Qoumas] was examined by us, and today there has been very positive progress, which we will announce on Monday. Without public support, this would not have happened, and the case handling might have taken longer,” he added.
Asep also responded to the report by the Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society (MAKI) to the KPK Supervisory Board.
“We certainly welcome it and thank the Indonesian public, especially MAKI in this case, as it is a form of support and concern for us in handling the hajj quota case,” he stated.
The alleged hajj quota corruption case has been under KPK investigation since 9 August 2025, related to the management of Indonesia’s hajj quota for the 2023-2024 period.
On 11 August 2025, KPK revealed an initial estimate of state losses in the case exceeding Rp1 trillion, while also preventing three individuals from travelling abroad for six months.
The three parties were former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, Ishfah Abidal Aziz alias Gus Alex, who was Yaqut’s special staff, and Fuad Hasan Masyhur as the owner of the Maktour hajj travel bureau.
Subsequent developments saw KPK naming Yaqut Cholil and Gus Alex as suspects in the case on 9 January 2026.
Yaqut then filed a pre-trial motion at the South Jakarta District Court on 10 February 2026, under case number 19/Pid.Pra/2026/PN JKT.SEL.
On 19 February 2026, KPK extended the travel ban for Yaqut and Gus Alex, while Fuad was no longer included in the extension.
KPK then received the results of an audit by the Financial Audit Board (BPK) of Indonesia on 27 February 2026, which was announced on 4 March 2026, stating state losses of Rp622 billion.
Yaqut’s pre-trial effort was rejected by the panel of judges at the South Jakarta District Court on 11 March 2026. The following day, on 12 March 2026, KPK detained Yaqut at the KPK’s Merah Putih Building State Detention House branch.
On 17 March 2026, KPK also detained Gus Alex at the KPK’s Central Anti-Corruption Education Detention House branch. While being taken to the detention vehicle, Gus Alex stated that there was no order or flow of funds from the hajj quota case to Yaqut.
On the same day, Yaqut’s family filed a request to change his detention status to house arrest. The request was granted, so Yaqut has been under house arrest since 19 March 2026.
However, KPK re-evaluated the status, and on 23 March 2026 announced the process of transferring Yaqut’s detention back to the detention centre. The next day, on 24 March 2026, Yaqut was officially detained again at the KPK Detention House.