KPK Hopes Yaqut Recovers Soon to Continue Legal Process
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has stated that former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas has completed surgery for a digestive issue at the Kramat Jati Police Hospital in Jakarta. KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo said on Tuesday that the medical procedure was carried out on Monday, and investigators are continuing to monitor Yaqut’s health condition. He expressed hope that Yaqut’s condition would improve so that the ongoing legal process could continue. Yaqut was granted a suspension of detention on the night of 24 June to undergo inpatient treatment at the hospital, where he is under the close guard of KPK detention officers. Budi explained that the suspension was based on a doctor’s examination requiring hospitalisation. In the case concerning additional hajj quotas, the detention period for Yaqut and his special staff member, Ishfah Abidal Aziz, also known as Gus Alex, was extended by 30 days earlier this month. The KPK is expediting the case and plans to transfer the dossiers of Yaqut and Ishfah alongside two other suspects who were detained on 8 June: Maktour Director of Operations Ismail Adham and Chairman of the Kesthuri Association, who is also a Commissioner of PT Raudah Eksati Utama, Asrul Azis Taba. During the investigation, the KPK has identified more than 300 travel agencies involved in the additional hajj quota scheme, though some have been reluctant to provide testimony regarding the buying and selling of 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) 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, relating to state financial losses. According to calculations by the Supreme Audit Agency, the alleged corruption in the additional hajj quota for 2023-2024 is estimated to have caused state losses of Rp622 billion.