KPK: Naming of new suspects dispels rumours of no money flow to Yaqut
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) views the naming of two individuals as new suspects in the alleged corruption case concerning the hajj quota as dispelling or clarifying rumours regarding the absence of any suspected money flow to former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (YCQ).
“This also clarifies and confirms the narrative circulating in society regarding whether or not there is a suspected money flow to Mr YCQ,” said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to journalists in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Budi explained that the KPK sees this as such because the two new suspects serve as the nexus or confirmation point that there is indeed a suspected money flow to several officials at the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
“These two suspects simultaneously become the nexus or confirmation point that there is indeed a suspected money flow from PIHK (hajj special pilgrimage organisers) to certain individuals at the Ministry of Religious Affairs,” he said.
The two new suspects, at the time of the hajj quota case, held positions as Operational Director of Maktour Ismail Adham and General Chairman of the Indonesian Hajj and Umrah Tour Travel Union (Kesthuri) Asrul Aziz Taba.
Previously, on 9 August 2025, the KPK began investigating the alleged corruption case related to the hajj quota for Indonesia in 2023–2024.
On 9 January 2026, the KPK announced former Yaqut and Ishfah Abidal Aziz alias Gus Alex, as Yaqut’s special staff, as suspects in the case.
Meanwhile, Fuad Hasan Masyhur, the owner of the hajj organiser Maktour, was not named as a suspect, although he was once banned from leaving the country.
On 27 February 2026, the KPK announced that it had received an audit from the Financial Audit Board (BPK) of the Republic of Indonesia regarding state financial losses due to the hajj quota case.
Then, on 4 March 2026, the KPK announced that the state financial losses due to the case amounted to Rp622 billion.
On 12 March 2026, the KPK detained Yaqut at the KPK’s Red and White Building Branch State Detention House.
Then, on 17 March 2026, the KPK detained Gus Alex at the KPK’s Central Anti-Corruption Education Branch Detention House.
On the same date, Yaqut’s family requested the KPK to allow the former Minister of Religious Affairs to be under house arrest. The KPK subsequently granted the request, and Yaqut has been under house arrest since 19 March 2026.
On 23 March 2026, the KPK announced that it was processing the transfer of Yaqut’s detention from house arrest back to detention centre. On 24 March 2026, Yaqut officially became a detainee at the KPK Detention Centre.
The KPK announced the two new suspects in the case on 30 March 2026. They are the Operational Director of Maktour Ismail Adham and the General Chairman of the Indonesian Hajj and Umrah Tour Travel Union (Kesthuri) Asrul Aziz Taba.