KPK examines Yaqut following change in detention status

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) examined the suspect in the alleged Hajj quota corruption case, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (YCQ), after the former Minister of Religious Affairs received a change in detention status. The change in detention involved a shift from a state detention centre (rutan) to house arrest, and then back to KPK detention centre. “This examination is a swift and progressive step by the investigators,” said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to journalists in Jakarta on Wednesday. Budi further stated that the examination was conducted by the KPK to complete the investigation file for 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. On 9 January 2026, the KPK announced that two of the three prevented individuals had become suspects in the alleged Hajj quota corruption case, namely Yaqut and Gus Alex. However, Yaqut filed a pre-trial petition 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 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. Subsequently, on 11 March 2026, the Panel of Judges at the South Jakarta District Court rejected Yaqut’s pre-trial petition. On 12 March 2026, the KPK detained Yaqut at the KPK’s Red White Building Branch State Detention Centre. Then, on 17 March 2026, the KPK detained Gus Alex at the KPK’s Anti-Corruption Education Centre Branch Detention Centre. While being led to the detention vehicle, he stated that there was no order or flow of money in the Hajj quota case to Yaqut. On the same date, Yaqut’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 change of Yaqut’s detention from house arrest back to detention centre. On 24 March 2026, Yaqut officially became a detainee at the KPK Detention Centre.