KPK detains former Religion Minister Yaqut Cholil for initial 20-day period or until 31 March 2026
The Indonesian Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) has detained suspect YCQ for an initial 20-day period, from 12 to 31 March 2026. The detention is being held at the Detention House Branch of the KPK’s Red and White Building.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) has detained the suspect in the hajj quota case and former Religion Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (YCQ) for an initial 20-day period, from 12 to 31 March 2026.
“The KPK is detaining suspect YCQ for the initial 20-day period, from 12 to 31 March 2026. The detention is being conducted at the Detention House Branch of the Red and White Building of the KPK,” said Asep Guntur Rahayu, Deputy for Prosecution and Execution at the KPK, at the Red and White Building of the KPK in Jakarta on Thursday.
Asep further stated that Yaqut is being detained on suspicion of violating Article 2 paragraph (1) and/or Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 Year 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption Offences as amended by Law Number 20 Year 2001 in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) section 1 of the old Criminal Code (KUHP).
“Of course, at trial, because there are new laws—Law Number 1 Year 2023 concerning the Criminal Code, Law Number 20 Year 2025 concerning the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP), and Law Number 1 Year 2026 concerning Criminal Sentence Adjustment—the principle of lex favor reo will apply, whereby the law that will be applied to the defendant is the one that is more favourable,” he said.
Previously, on 9 August 2025, the KPK announced it had begun investigating the alleged corruption case related to the hajj quota for Indonesia for 2023-2024.
On 11 August 2025, the KPK announced that its preliminary calculation of state losses in the case had reached more than Rp1 trillion and placed three individuals under travel restrictions for the next six months.
Those placed under restriction were Yaqut, Ishfah Abidal Aziz (IAA) alias Gus Alex as a member of Yaqut’s staff, and Fuad Hasan Masyhur as the owner of the hajj travel agency Maktour.
On 9 January 2026, the KPK announced that two of the three individuals placed under restriction had become suspects in the alleged hajj quota corruption case: Yaqut and Gus Alex.
However, Yaqut filed a motion for judicial review of the determination of him as a suspect at the South Jakarta District Court on 10 February 2026, which was 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. Fuad’s restriction was not extended.
On 27 February 2026, the KPK announced that it had received an audit from the State Audit Board (BPK RI) regarding the state financial losses resulting from the hajj quota case. Subsequently, on 4 March 2026, the KPK announced that state financial losses from the case had reached Rp622 billion.
On 11 March 2026, the panel of judges at the South Jakarta District Court rejected Yaqut’s motion for judicial review.