KPK: Gus Alex Played Central Role in Bridging Orders and Money to Yaqut
Indonesia’s anti-corruption agency (KPK) has arrested Ishfah Abidal Aziz, known as Gus Alex, a former special staff member of ex-Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas. The KPK alleges that Gus Alex held a central role in a corruption case.
“Mr IAA held a central role as a bridge in the flow of orders and receipt of money by Mr YCQ,” KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo said to reporters at KPK headquarters on Kuningan Street, South Jakarta, on Tuesday (17 March 2026).
Budi explained that Gus Alex actively communicated with special hajj operators (PIHK) to absorb additional quotas through special channels. Alex, Budi said, also collected acceleration fees from the extra hajj quota distribution given to PIHK operators.
“IAA is suspected of actively collecting acceleration fees (T0 or TX) for pilgrims who wanted to depart immediately without waiting in queue,” Budi explained.
Budi revealed that the acceleration money requested by Gus Alex in the 2023 period reached USD 5,000 per pilgrim, or approximately Rp 80 million at the exchange rate at that time. For 2024, it amounted to USD 2,500, or approximately Rp 40 million per quota, out of a total of 10,000 additional special hajj quotas.
“The money is suspected of flowing to Mr YCQ, IAA, and other parties at the Religious Affairs Ministry,” Budi said.
Previously, Gus Alex had denied receiving orders from Yaqut to manage the distribution of additional hajj quotas. He stated this whilst being taken to the detention vehicle after being officially arrested.
“There were none. There were no orders whatsoever from Gus Yaqut,” Alex said whilst being led to the detention vehicle in front of KPK headquarters on Kuningan Street, South Jakarta, on Tuesday (17 March).
Additionally, Gus Alex denied that Yaqut received money from the distribution of special hajj quotas. He stated that he had already conveyed everything he knew to the investigators.
“No, no, no (money received). I have already conveyed everything to the investigators, many things I have already conveyed. Directly to the investigators and my legal team, my legal team. Thank you,” he said.
Gus Alex also said he respected the legal process being pursued against him. He hopes to be given justice.
“I respect the legal process that is underway. I have already conveyed many things. Hopefully we can find justice and the true truth. Thank you,” he said.
The KPK itself has revealed Gus Alex’s role in this case. Gus Alex greatly assisted Yaqut in distributing additional hajj quotas which were actually not in accordance with regulations.
Gus Alex also asked that officials at the Religious Affairs Ministry request money from special hajj operators as fees because they had been given additional quotas for the implementation of special hajj. These fees were ultimately obtained by Yaqut as Religious Affairs Minister at that time and by Gus Alex himself.
However, regarding the exact amount of fees obtained by Gus Alex and Yaqut, the KPK explained that they are still conducting detailed calculations.
“What YCQ received we are still counting precisely, wait and see. Then what GA received will also be counted,” explained Asep.