KPK Discussed Potential Public Reaction Before Yaqut Became House Detainee

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) stated that it had discussed the potential or possibility of public reaction before deciding to transfer the detention of the suspect in the alleged Hajj quota corruption case, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, from a state detention centre (rutan) to house arrest. “Of course, yes,” said KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu at the KPK Red and White Building in Jakarta on Thursday. Asep explained that this was discussed in one of the KPK meetings following a request from the family of the former Minister of Religious Affairs regarding the transfer of detention from rutan to house arrest. “So, it was not a personal decision. It was an institutional decision, and of course, it considered, first, whether the legal norms allow it. Then it also considered the impacts and other matters,” he said. He also mentioned that the meeting considered the strategy for handling the Hajj quota case. Previously, 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 an initial calculation of state losses in the case exceeding Rp1 trillion, and prevented three individuals from travelling abroad for the next six months. Those prevented were former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, Ishfah Abidal Aziz alias Gus Alex as Yaqut’s special staff, and Fuad Hasan Masyhur as the owner of the Maktour Hajj organising bureau. However, Yaqut Cholil filed a pre-trial request against the suspect determination 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 an extension of the travel ban only for Yaqut Cholil and Gus Alex, while Fuad’s was not extended. On 27 February 2026, the KPK announced that it had received an audit from the Financial Audit Board (BPK) of the Republic of Indonesia regarding state financial losses due to the Hajj quota case. Then on 4 March 2026, the KPK announced that the state financial losses due to the case amounted to Rp622 billion. On 12 March 2026, the KPK detained Yaqut Cholil at the KPK Red and White Building Branch State Detention Centre. Then on 17 March 2026, the KPK detained Gus Alex at the KPK Central Anti-Corruption Education Branch Detention Centre. While walking to the detention vehicle, he stated that there was no order or flow of money in the Hajj quota case to Yaqut Cholil. On the same date, Yaqut Cholil’s family requested the KPK to allow the former Minister to be under house arrest. The KPK then granted the request, and Yaqut has been under house arrest since 19 March 2026. On 23 March 2026, the KPK announced that it was processing the transfer of Yaqut Cholil’s detention from house arrest back to rutan. On 24 March 2026, Yaqut officially became a KPK rutan detainee.