KPK Grills Travel Bosses Over Illegal Profits from Hajj Quota Trading
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conducted marathon examinations of several hajj and umrah travel agency bosses in connection with the hajj quota corruption case implicating former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (YCQ). The KPK investigative team is tracing the profits obtained by travel agencies from the sale of special hajj quotas that should have been regular hajj quotas.
KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo stated that after examining Ustad Khalid Basalamah, one of the owners of a hajj and umrah travel agency, on Thursday (23/4), the KPK investigators also scheduled examinations for four travel bosses on Friday (24/4). The four travel bosses examined by the KPK yesterday were:
Syarif Thalib, Operational Director of PT Marco Tour & Travel
Asep Inwanudin, Director of PT Medina Mitra Wisata
Ibnu Mas’ud, Commissioner of PT Muhibbah Mulia Wisata
Mahmud Muchtar Syarif, President Director of PT Almuchtar Tour and Travel.
Budi said that of the four individuals summoned, only Syarif Thalib attended the examination. The investigators then delved deeper into the illegal profits obtained by the travel agencies from the practice of trading hajj quotas.
“Witness 1 attended, Witnesses 2 to 4 did not attend. Continuing the previous examinations for witnesses from associations and PIHKs, the investigators delved into the witness statements regarding the sale or filling of quotas, including the unlawful profits obtained by those PIHKs,” Budi told reporters on Saturday (25/4/2026).
Previously, the KPK had named Ismail Adham (ISM), Operational Director of PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour), and Asrul Azis Taba (ASR), Commissioner of PT Raudah Eksati Utama and General Chairman of the Kesthuri Association, as new suspects in the 2023-2024 hajj quota corruption case. The KPK suspects that Ismail and Asrul gave money to Yaqut while he was serving as Religious Affairs Minister (Menag).
The money was given through an intermediary, former special staff to Yaqut, Gus Alex.
Ismail is suspected of giving USD 30,000 to Gus Alex. Ismail also allegedly handed over USD 5,000 to Hilman Latief (HL), the former Director General of Hajj and Umrah Organising (Dirjen PHU) of the Ministry of Religious Affairs in 2024.
“Suspect ISM is suspected of giving a sum of money to IAA amounting to USD 30,000 as well as to Mr HL, as Director General of Hajj and Umrah Organising of the Dirjen PHU of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, amounting to USD 5,000 and SAR 16,000,” said Asep.
Now, the total number of suspects in this case is four. The other two suspects are former Menag Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and his former special staff, Ishfah Abidal Azis or Gus Alex.