KPK Confident Judge Will Reject Former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut's Pre-trial Bid
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is confident that the Panel of Judges at the South Jakarta District Court will reject the pre-trial motion filed by former Religious Affairs Minister (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (YCQ).
Yaqut previously filed a pre-trial lawsuit challenging his designation as a suspect in a hajj quota corruption case.
“We are confident that in its ruling, the judges will reject the petitioner’s request and declare that the designation of YCQ as a suspect in this case is valid,” said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to journalists on Monday, 9 March 2026.
Furthermore, Budi stated that the KPK also believes the Panel of Judges will accept the anti-corruption agency’s arguments through its Legal Bureau and declare that all formal and procedural aspects of the investigation, including the suspect designation, comply with legal provisions and the sufficiency of valid evidence.
The ruling on Yaqut’s pre-trial motion is scheduled for 11 March 2026.
Previously, on 9 August 2025, the KPK announced it had begun investigating allegations of corruption in determining hajj quotas and the administration of hajj pilgrimage at the Religious Affairs Ministry during 2023-2024.
On 11 August 2025, the KPK announced preliminary calculations showing state losses in the case exceeded Rp1 trillion and imposed travel restrictions on three individuals for up to six months. These individuals were Yaqut, Ishfah Abidal Aziz, also known as Gus Alex, a staff member of Yaqut, and Fuad Hasan Masyhur, owner of the Maktour hajj organising agency.
On 9 January 2026, the KPK announced that two of the three individuals under travel restrictions became suspects in the alleged hajj quota corruption case: Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (YCQ) and Ishfah Abidal Aziz (IAA).
However, Yaqut filed a pre-trial motion challenging his suspect designation 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 it had extended the travel restrictions only for Yaqut and Gus Alex, whilst Fuad’s restriction was not renewed.
On 27 February 2026, the KPK announced it had received an audit from the State Audit Board (BPK RI) regarding state financial losses from the hajj quota case. Subsequently, on 4 March 2026, the KPK announced that state financial losses from the case totalled Rp622 billion.