KPK Examines Yaqut with 30 Days Remaining in Detention Period

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) examined former Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs for the 2019-2024 period, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, on Friday (19/6), with 30 days remaining in his detention period for the alleged corruption case involving additional Hajj quotas for 2023-2024. Yaqut arrived at the KPK’s Merah Putih Building from the KPK State Detention Centre at 09:37 WIB. He only offered a greeting without providing any statement regarding today’s examination. The KPK has a time limit of 90 to 120 days from the point of detention to transfer case files and suspects to court. In the additional Hajj quota case, the detention of Yaqut and his Special Staff member, Ishfah Abidal Aziz, also known as Gus Alex, was extended by 30 days as of early June. The KPK is accelerating the handling of this case. The plan is to transfer Yaqut and Ishfah’s cases together with two other suspects who were only detained on 8 June: Maktour Operations Director Ismail Adham and Kesthuri Association Chairman, who is also a Commissioner of PT Raudah Eksati Utama, Asrul Azis Taba. During the ongoing investigation, the KPK has identified more than 300 travel agencies involved in the additional Hajj quotas. A number of travel agencies have been hesitant to provide information regarding the practice of buying and selling additional Hajj quotas. The KPK is applying Article 2 paragraph (1) and/or Article 3 of the Corruption Eradication Law in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) 1st of the Criminal Code, or as referred to in Article 603 or Article 604 of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 20 letter (c) of the Criminal Code Law. This article relates to state financial losses. Based on calculations by the audit team of the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), the alleged corruption case involving additional Hajj quotas for 2023-2024 is suspected of causing state financial losses amounting to Rp622 billion. Confirmed separately, KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo stated that Yaqut was examined as a witness for the other suspects. “Today’s examination of YCQ [Yaqut Cholil Qoumas] is in his capacity as a witness to provide information regarding the unlawful acts of the other suspects,” Budi said when contacted via written message.