KPK Claims Former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Attempted to Influence Parliamentary Committee with Cash Offer

JAKARTA — Indonesia’s Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) has stated that former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas made efforts to influence the Parliamentary Special Committee (Pansus) on Hajj within the House of Representatives by offering funds, though the committee rejected the offer.

“Regarding the alleged provision to the Pansus, based on testimony from witnesses, there was indeed an attempt from brother YCQ when this Pansus was formed and began its sessions. There was an attempt to provide something, but it was rejected,” said Asep Guntur Rahayu, Deputy for Prosecution and Execution at the KPK, at the Red and White Building in Jakarta on Thursday (12 March 2026).

“The amount was approximately 1 million US dollars, but it was rejected,” he added.

“This was also part of the money collected from various forums, which was then used on the orders of brother YCQ (Yaqut) to be given to the Pansus,” Rahayu said.

Asep stated that for the 2024 hajj quota, Gus Alex instructed M Agus Syafi, the head of the sub-directorate for licensing, accreditation, and the development of special hajj operations, to demand sums from PIHK (special hajj pilgrimage organisers) or hajj travel agencies, which were ultimately passed on to special hajj pilgrims.

“This amounted to at least USD 2,500 (approximately IDR 42.2 million) per pilgrim as a fee, commitment fee, or other charge, in order to obtain an additional special hajj quota, also known as T0 or TX quota,” he explained.

“However, some of the fee money was retained and used for YCQ’s personal interests,” Asep said.

The KPK detained Yaqut Cholil Qoumas as a suspect in the alleged corruption case concerning 2023-2024 hajj quotas on Thursday evening (12 March 2026).

Yaqut was officially detained following his interrogation as a suspect at the Red and White Building in Jakarta.

“Today, the KPK detained suspect brother YCQ for an initial 20-day period from 12 to 31 March 2026. The detention is being held at the State Detention Centre (Rutan) branch of the KPK’s Red and White Building,” said Asep Guntur Rahayu, Deputy for Prosecution and Execution at the KPK, during a press conference at the Red and White Building in Jakarta on Thursday.

Yaqut is being charged under Article 2(1) and/or Article 3 of Law No. 31 of 1999 concerning the eradication of corruption offences.

The KPK disclosed that state losses resulting from the alleged hajj quota corruption case have reached IDR 622 billion.