KPK Extends Detention of Former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut by 40 Days
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has extended the detention period by 40 days for former Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, who is a suspect in the alleged corruption case concerning the 2023-2024 hajj quota.
“Today, the investigators carried out the first extension of detention for the suspect YCQ [Yaqut Cholil Qoumas]. After the initial 20-day detention, today an extension for the next 40 days has been implemented,” stated KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo at the agency’s office in Jakarta on Tuesday (31/3).
Budi explained that investigators still require time to complete the case file for the hajj quota involving suspect Yaqut and his special staff member, Ishfah Abidal Aziz alias Gus Alex.
In the ongoing process, investigators will seek statements from several witnesses and carry out other coercive measures such as searches and seizures of evidence.
“Indeed, the investigators still need time to gather additional statements to complete the investigation file for this case, so that it can later proceed to the second stage towards prosecution,” he said.
“This includes, in the investigation of this case, the investigators are also still focused on summoning the PIHK (Special Hajj Organisers) or Hajj Organising Bureaus,” he added.
Based on calculations by the Audit Board of Indonesia (BPK) team, the alleged corruption in the 2023-2024 hajj quota is suspected to have caused state financial losses amounting to Rp622 billion.
In the ongoing investigation, the KPK has found that more than 300 hajj and umrah travel agencies across nearly all regions in Indonesia received quotas that had been pre-arranged.
Budi assured that investigators will make every effort to recover state assets lost due to the unlawful actions of the suspects in this corruption case.
“Moreover, the investigators’ focus is on how to optimise assets or asset recovery. If we look at the BPK’s calculations, the state financial loss amounts to more than Rp600 billion. This will certainly also be a focus for the investigators so that asset recovery from this case can be optimal,” he said.
In addition to Yaqut and Ishfah, who are already detained, the KPK announced two new suspects on Monday (30/3).
They are Ismail Adham, Operational Director of PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour), and Asrul Azis Taba, Commissioner of PT Raudah Eksati Utama and General Chairman of the Kesthuri Association.
Ismail and Asrul are charged with violating Article 2 paragraph (1) and/or Article 3 of the Corruption Eradication Law (UU Tipikor) in conjunction with 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 in conjunction with Article 20 letter (c) of the Criminal Code Law.
Ismail and Asrul are suspected of actively participating in arranging the filling of additional special hajj quotas that did not comply with applicable regulations, as well as providing sums of money to state organisers, in this case, several officials at the Ministry of Religious Affairs.