KPK Examines Khalid Basalamah Regarding Money Return and Hajj Quota Discussions

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has confirmed the examination of funds returned and discussions regarding Hajj quotas involving Khalid Zeed Abdullah Basalamah, owner of PT Zahra Oto Mandiri (Uhud Tour), and four other witnesses examined today, Thursday (23/4). “In today’s examination, the witnesses were asked for statements regarding the return of money by PIHK (Special Hajj Organisers) to the KPK previously, as well as discussions on the additional Hajj quota for 2023-2024,” said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo in a written statement on Thursday night. “Indeed, the examination relates to the Sathu Forum and discussions on the additional Hajj quota for 2023-2024,” Budi added. The other three witnesses examined were the President Director of PT Kafilah Maghfirah Wisata, Firman M. Nur; Director of PT Chairul Umam Addauli, Dahrizal Dahlan; Director of PT Nadwa Mulia Utama, Zulhendri; and President Director of PT Sriwijaya Mega Wisata, Salwaty. In handling this case, besides Khalid, the KPK has also received money returns from several other PIHK not detailed specifically. However, Budi stated, there are still several PIHK that have not returned the funds. “Therefore, on this occasion, the KPK also urges associations or other PIHK to follow the witnesses who have been cooperative in providing statements and returning money from the filling of this Hajj quota,” he said. “Accordingly, the investigators will certainly schedule examinations for associations or other PIHK that have not yet been examined or made returns,” he concluded. Khalid’s Statement Meanwhile, Khalid said he was examined in his capacity as Chairman of the Mutiara Haji Association. He emphasised that he has never directly interacted with the suspects already designated by the KPK. “Here there are names that I have never interacted with, such as the former Minister of Religious Affairs, his special staff, I don’t know them. And today I was called in my capacity as Chairman of the Mutiara Haji Association,” Khalid said after undergoing the examination. He claimed not to know about the flow of money to several officials in the Ministry of Religious Affairs. He explained that he only dealt with PT Muhibbah Mulia Wisata Pekanbaru. Khalid explained that he and the Uhud Tour pilgrims eventually performed Hajj through the special quota offered by that travel agency. The money he returned to the KPK, he clarified, relates to PT Muhibbah Mulia Wisata Pekanbaru. “So, PT Muhibbah returned the funds to us. We don’t know what money it was. The amount was around Rp8.4 billion. Yes, it was returned,” Khalid explained. “That money wasn’t kept by us. It was given by Muhibbah, then we didn’t know what money it was, the KPK asked, we returned it when asked. That’s the extent of it. So, once again, in this case, we are the victims,” he stressed. The KPK has currently designated four individuals as suspects in the alleged corruption case of the 2023-2024 Hajj quota, which is suspected to have harmed state finances by Rp622 billion. They are former Minister of Religious Affairs of Indonesia Yaqut Cholil Qoumas; Yaqut’s staff named Ishfah Abidal Aziz alias Gus Alex; Operational Director of PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour) Ismail Adham; and Commissioner of PT Raudah Eksati Utama as well as General Chairman of the Kesthuri Association, Asrul Azis Taba. Nevertheless, only Yaqut and Ishfah have been detained by the KPK. The KPK applies Article 2 paragraph (1) and or Article 3 of the Corruption Eradication Law (UU Tipikor) juncto Article 55 paragraph (1) first of the Criminal Code or as referred to in Article 603 or Article 604 of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code juncto Article 20 letter (c) of the Criminal Code Law in this case.