KPK Continues Investigation into Hajj Quota Corruption Case, Examines Gus Alex
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has scheduled an examination of Ishfah Abidal Aziz, commonly known as Gus Alex, in his capacity as a suspect in the investigation into alleged corruption involving Indonesia’s hajj quota.
The summons was issued several days after KPK investigators detained former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas on 12 March 2026 in connection with the same case.
KPK Spokesman Budi Prasetyo stated that the examination was scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 17 March 2026. “Today, Tuesday (17/3), investigators have scheduled an examination summons for colleague IAA, who was a Special Staff member of the Religious Affairs Minister during the period 2020–2024. The summons in question is in his capacity as a suspect,” Budi Prasetyo told journalists in Jakarta on Tuesday (17/3).
Budi added that the examination of Gus Alex would be conducted at the KPK’s Red and White Building in Jakarta. “We believe colleague IAA is cooperative and will respond to today’s summons,” he said.
The investigation into alleged hajj quota corruption began on 9 August 2025. The inquiry concerns the management of Indonesia’s hajj quota during 2023–2024. Two days after the investigation commenced, on 11 August 2025, the KPK revealed an initial estimate of state losses exceeding Rp1 trillion. At the same time, the anti-corruption agency also imposed a ban on foreign travel for three individuals lasting six months.
The three individuals prevented from travelling abroad were Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, Ishfah Abidal Aziz, also known as Gus Alex, as special staff to the Religious Affairs Minister, and Fuad Hasan Masyhur, identified as the owner of the hajj organising agency Maktour.
On 9 January 2026, the KPK formally designated two of the three previously banned individuals as suspects: Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and Gus Alex.
Following the designation of suspects, Yaqut filed a pre-trial motion at the South Jakarta District Court on 10 February 2026. The petition was registered under case number 19/Pid.Pra/2026/PN JKT.SEL.
On 19 February 2026, the KPK extended the ban on foreign travel for Yaqut and Gus Alex. Meanwhile, the travel ban on Fuad Hasan Masyhur was not renewed.
The investigation continued to develop. On 27 February 2026, the KPK announced it had received an audit report from the Financial Audit Board (BPK) RI concerning potential state losses in the case. Based on the audit results announced on 4 March 2026, the value of state financial losses resulting from the hajj quota corruption case reached Rp622 billion.
A panel of judges at the South Jakarta District Court ultimately rejected Yaqut’s pre-trial motion on 11 March 2026.
One day after that decision, on 12 March 2026, the KPK proceeded to detain Yaqut. He is now held at the State Detention Centre, Branch of the KPK’s Red and White Building, for the purposes of further investigation.
Regarding the alleged corruption scheme, the KPK has uncovered a modus operandi coded “T0” whereby pilgrims could depart immediately without waiting in queue by paying USD 5,000. Former Minister Yaqut is alleged to have instructed his special staff, Gus Alex, to distribute an additional 20,000 hajj quotas for 2024 through this scheme. The former Religious Affairs Minister is also alleged to have received fees of Rp84.4 million per quota distributed.