KPK Invites Public to Monitor Trial of Yaqut and Others Starting Next Tuesday

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) of the Republic of Indonesia is inviting the public to monitor the trial of former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and three suspects in the alleged hajj quota corruption case, which begins next Tuesday, 11 August 2026. “We invite the public to jointly monitor and oversee the trial process because the proceedings are open,” said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to journalists in Jakarta on Tuesday. Budi added that the KPK is encouraging public monitoring because the case is closely linked to the welfare of many people. “This case is certainly very close to the public interest, especially for prospective hajj pilgrims,” he said. Previously, Central Jakarta District Court Spokesperson Andi Saputra stated that the inaugural trial of Yaqut and his co-defendants would be held on 11 August 2026. Andi said the session, which will feature the reading of the indictment, will be presided over by Chief Judge Ni Kadek Susantiani, accompanied by panel members Adek Nurhadi and Sigit Herman Binaji. The KPK began investigating the alleged corruption case involving Indonesia’s hajj quota for 2023-2024 on 9 August 2025. Subsequently, on 9 January 2026, the KPK named Yaqut and his former special staff member, Ishfah Abidal Aziz alias Gus Alex, as suspects. Meanwhile, Fuad Hasan Masyhur, the owner of the Maktour hajj organiser bureau, was not named a suspect, although he was previously placed on a travel ban. The KPK later received the results of an audit by the Supreme Audit Agency on 24 February 2026, which stated that the potential state loss in the case reached Rp622 billion. Yaqut was detained at the KPK’s Red and White Building branch detention centre on 12 March 2026, while Ishfah was detained five days later. As the case developed, the KPK also named two new suspects on 30 March 2026, namely Maktour Operational Director Ismail Adham and former General Chairman of the Indonesian Hajj and Umrah Tour Travel Association Asrul Aziz Taba. Both were subsequently detained on 8 June 2026. On 24 June 2026, the KPK suspended Yaqut’s detention to the National Police Hospital after he experienced digestive tract health issues. The KPK re-detained Yaqut on 9 July 2026. On 14 July 2026, the KPK announced the transfer of the case files for Yaqut and the three other suspects to the KPK Public Prosecutor. The KPK Public Prosecutor then transferred the indictment files for the suspects to the Central Jakarta District Court on 31 July 2026.