KPK Confirms Wife of Immanuel Ebenezer Regarding Yaqut Not Celebrating Eid in Detention
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has confirmed the statement from the wife of suspect and former Deputy Minister of Manpower Immanuel Ebenezer Gerungan, Silvia Rinita Harefa, regarding former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas not celebrating Eid in the state detention centre.
“True,” said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to journalists in Jakarta on Saturday.
Budi explained that Yaqut, as a suspect in the alleged hajj quota corruption case, had not been at the KPK Detention Centre since the night of 19 March 2026.
Previously, on 21 March 2026, after visiting Ebenezer—who is a suspect in an alleged extortion corruption case—Silvia spoke to journalists waiting for her, stating that information was circulating among the detainees about Yaqut not being seen in the detention centre.
“I didn’t see Gus Yaqut earlier. The info is that he left on Thursday night (19/3),” said Silvia.
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 present,” she said.
When further questioned whether only Ebenezer knew about this information, she stated that all detainees were aware.
“Everyone knows about it. They’re just wondering. They said there was an examination, but it’s unlikely to have an examination on the eve of Takbiran night. Even up to today (Saturday, 21/3), there hasn’t been any,” she said.
Therefore, she suggested that journalists verify the information she had received.
“You all should check for more info. That’s all the information,” she said.
It is known that Yaqut 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 at the KPK’s Red White Building Branch State Detention House after his pre-trial was rejected on 11 March 2026. The case was stated by the Financial Audit Board (BPK) of Indonesia to have caused state losses of up to Rp622 billion.