KPK Examines Former Director-General for Hajj and Umrah at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Hilman Latief, in Hajj Quota Case

Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is examining former Director-General for Hajj and Umrah Affairs at the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag), Hilman Latief, as a witness in the alleged Hajj quota corruption case. “Today, investigators conducted a witness interview on behalf of HL as the former Director-General of PHU at the Ministry of Religious Affairs,” KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo told reporters on Wednesday, 20 May 2026. Budi said the questioning of Hilman Latief is still ongoing. He stated that they would provide further updates once the interview with Hilman Latief is complete. “We will wait together. We will update again,” he said. Previously, on Monday, 18 May 2026, the KPK also questioned Special Presidential Assistant for Hajj Muhadjir Effendy as a witness. Investigators are examining the 2022 additional Hajj quota when Muhadjir served as interim Minister of Religious Affairs. The KPK began proceedings into the alleged corruption surrounding the 2023–2024 Hajj quota on 9 August 2025. Subsequently, on 9 January 2026, the KPK named former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and Ishfah Abidal Aziz, alias Gus Alex, as suspects. Meanwhile, Fuad Hasan Masyhur, owner of the Hajj arranging bureau Maktour, was not named a suspect, though he had been barred from leaving the country. The KPK subsequently received audit results from the Audit Board of Indonesia (BPK) on 27 February 2026 indicating state losses in the matter of Rp622 billion. On 12 March 2026, the KPK detained Yaqut at the State Detention House, Gedung Merah Putih branch, and on 17 March 2026 detained Ishfah. The KPK briefly converted Yaqut’s detention to house arrest on 19 March 2026 at the request of his family, but later returned him to the KPK detention centre on 24 March 2026. On 30 March 2026, the KPK named two new suspects, namely Maktour’s Operational Director Ismail Adham and Asrul Aziz Taba, Chairman of the United Hajj and Umrah Travel Agencies Association of Indonesia (Kesthuri). (Ant)