KPK Asserts No Interference in Transfer of Yaqut's Detention
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has asserted that there was no interference in the transfer of detention for the suspect in the alleged Hajj quota corruption case, who is also the former Minister of Religious Affairs, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, some time ago.
“As far as I know, there was none,” said KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu at the KPK’s Red and White Building in Jakarta on Thursday.
In addition, Asep stated that there was no attempt to conceal anything from the KPK when transferring Yaqut’s detention from a state detention house (rutan) to house arrest, and then back to detention in the rutan.
“There was no concealment either because the parties who, according to the law, must receive notification have been duly notified by us,” he said.
Meanwhile, he explained that the decision to transfer Yaqut’s detention was made collectively and collegially by the KPK leadership in one of the meetings.
“I was one of those who attended the meeting,” he added.
Previously, on 9 August 2025, the KPK began investigating the alleged corruption case related to Indonesia’s Hajj quota for 2023-2024.
On 11 August 2025, the KPK announced that the initial calculation of state losses in the case amounted to more than Rp1 trillion, and prevented three individuals from travelling abroad for the next six months.
Those prevented were former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, Ishfah Abidal Aziz alias Gus Alex as Yaqut’s special staff, and Fuad Hasan Masyhur as the owner of the Maktour Hajj organising agency.
On 9 January 2026, the KPK announced that two of the three prevented individuals had become suspects in the alleged Hajj quota corruption case, namely Yaqut and Gus Alex.
However, Yaqut filed a pre-trial petition against the suspect determination at the South Jakarta District Court on 10 February 2026, registered under case number 19/Pid.Pra/2026/PN JKT.SEL.
On 19 February 2026, the KPK announced the extension of the travel ban only for Yaqut and Gus Alex, while Fuad’s was not extended.
On 27 February 2026, the KPK announced that it had received an audit from the Financial Audit Board (BPK) of the Republic of Indonesia regarding the state financial losses due to the Hajj quota case. Then, on 4 March 2026, the KPK announced that the state financial losses due to the case amounted to Rp622 billion.
Subsequently, on 11 March 2026, the Panel of Judges at the South Jakarta District Court rejected Yaqut’s pre-trial petition.
On 12 March 2026, the KPK detained Yaqut at the State Detention House Branch of the KPK’s Red and White Building.
Then, on 17 March 2026, the KPK detained Gus Alex at the Detention House Branch of the KPK’s Anti-Corruption Education Centre. While walking to the detention vehicle, he stated that there was no order or flow of money in the Hajj quota case to Yaqut.
On the same date, Yaqut’s family requested the KPK to allow the former Minister of Religious Affairs to be under house arrest. The KPK then granted the request, and Yaqut has been under house arrest since 19 March 2026.
On 23 March 2026, the KPK announced that it was processing the transfer of Yaqut’s detention from house arrest back to detention in the rutan. On 24 March 2026, Yaqut officially became a detainee at the KPK’s Rutan.