KPK: Gus Alex and Hilman Latief Received Money from Hajj Quota Suspects
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) states that Hilman Latief (HL), Director General of Hajj and Umrah Organising (Dirjen PHU) at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, and Ishfah Abidal Azis (IAA) alias Gus Alex, Special Staff to Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, received sums of money from two suspects in the Hajj quota corruption case.
The two suspects are Ismail Adham (ISM), Operational Director of PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour), and Azrul Azis Taba (ASR), Commissioner of PT Raudah Eksati Utama and Chairman of the Kesthuri Association.
“Suspect ISM is alleged to have given sums of money to IAA amounting to US$30,000 and to Mr HL, Director General of Hajj and Umrah Organising (Dirjen PHU) at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, amounting to US$5,000 and 16,000 SAR,” said KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu at his office on Monday (30/3).
In the continuation of handling this case, investigators found active roles by the two suspects in arranging the filling of additional special Hajj quotas that did not comply with statutory regulations, as well as the giving of sums of money to state officials.
In the case construction, Ismail and Azrul, together with Fuad Hasan Masyhur as the Advisory Board of the Silaturahmi Association of Hajj and Umrah Travel (SATHU) Forum and other parties, held meetings with Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and his special staff Gus Alex, with the aim of requesting an increase in special Hajj quotas exceeding the 8 percent limit as regulated by statutory provisions.
Eventually, in the process, the regular and special Hajj quotas were divided with a 50 percent scheme each.
“Subsequently, the two suspects, together with parties from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, arranged the filling of additional special Hajj quotas for companies affiliated with PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour), thus obtaining additional special Hajj quotas, including Hajj quotas with an accelerated departure scheme (T0),” said Asep.
Suspect Ismail is alleged to have given sums of money to Gus Alex amounting to US$30,000 and to Hilman as Dirjen PHU at the Ministry of Religious Affairs amounting to US$5,000 and 16,000 SAR (Saudi Arabian Riyal).
For their actions, PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour) obtained unlawful gains in 2024 amounting to approximately Rp27.8 billion.
Meanwhile, suspect Azrul is alleged to have given sums of money to Gus Alex amounting to US$406,000.
“For that giving, eight Special Hajj Service Providers (PIHK) affiliated with suspect ASR also obtained unlawful gains in 2024 totalling Rp40.8 billion,” said Asep.
KPK has named a total of four suspects in this case, namely Ismail Adham as Operational Director of PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour) and Azrul Azis Taba as Commissioner of PT Raudah Eksati Utama and Chairman of the Kesthuri Association as suspects in the alleged Hajj quota corruption case.
Then, former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas along with his Special Staff, Gus Alex, have also been named as suspects. Both have been detained at the KPK Detention Centre.