KPK Denies Gus Alex's Statement Regarding Hajj Quota Corruption Case
Jakarta — The Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) has denied the statement made by Ishfah Abidal Aziz, also known as Gus Alex, a suspect in the alleged hajj quota corruption case, regarding the absence of any orders or money transfers to former Religious Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.
“Certainly, during the trial proceedings, all details will be revealed, including how the illegal acts were conducted by the parties already designated as suspects, and what roles each party played in the discretionary process or the alleged receipt of funds from PIHK (special hajj service providers),” said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo at the KPK Red and White Building in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Because of this, Budi stated that the KPK is inviting the public to always follow the hajj quota case when it reaches the trial stage.
“So that we can collectively follow and examine every fact that emerges during the trial,” he said.
Earlier, 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 a preliminary calculation of state losses in the case reached more than Rp1 trillion, and prevented three people from travelling abroad for the next six months.
The three prevented from travelling were Yaqut, Ishfah Abidal Aziz (Gus Alex), who served as Yaqut’s special assistant, and Fuad Hasan Masyhur, the owner of the Maktour hajj service provider office.
On 9 January 2026, the KPK announced that two of the three people prevented from travelling became suspects in the alleged hajj quota corruption case: Yaqut and Gus Alex.
However, Yaqut filed a pre-trial motion against his designation as a suspect to 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 an extension of the travel ban for only Yaqut and Gus Alex. Meanwhile, Fuad’s ban was not extended.
On 27 February 2026, the KPK announced that it had received an audit from the State Audit Board (BPK) RI regarding state financial losses resulting from the hajj quota case. Subsequently, on 4 March 2026, the KPK announced that the state financial losses from the case reached Rp622 billion.
On 11 March 2026, the panel of judges at the South Jakarta District Court rejected Yaqut’s pre-trial motion.
On 12 March 2026, the KPK detained Yaqut at the State Detention Centre Branch of the KPK Red and White Building.
On 17 March 2026, the KPK detained Gus Alex at the State Detention Centre Branch of the KPK’s Central Anti-Corruption Education Building. When walking to the detention vehicle, he stated that there were no orders or money transfers in the hajj quota case to Yaqut.