KPK opens possibility of naming suspects from associations other than Kesthuri
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has opened the possibility of naming new suspects in the alleged hajj quota corruption case from hajj organiser associations other than Kesatuan Tour Travel Haji Umrah Republik Indonesia (Kesthuri).
“Of course, the possibility is open,” said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to journalists in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Budi explained that this possibility arises by examining roles similar to that of hajj quota case suspect Asrul Aziz Taba, who is affiliated with Kesthuri.
“These parties designated as suspects were indeed actively involved in the initial process. There were meetings that we captured (obtained information on, ed.) conducted by association parties with officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, among others, discussing the arrangement of additional hajj quotas,” he clarified.
According to him, these meetings led to the discretionary decision to split the 20,000 additional hajj quota for 2024 equally, with 10,000 for regular hajj and 10,000 for special hajj.
“Yes, so who benefits from this unlawful discretionary act? The parties in the travel bureaus (hajj organisers, ed.) under these associations,” he said.
Previously, on 9 August 2025, the KPK began investigating the alleged corruption case related to Indonesia’s hajj quota for 2023–2024.
On 9 January 2026, the KPK announced former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and Ishfah Abidal Aziz alias Gus Alex, a special staff to Yaqut, as suspects in the case.
Meanwhile, Fuad Hasan Masyhur, owner of 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 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 state financial losses from the case amounted to Rp622 billion.
On 12 March 2026, the KPK detained Yaqut Cholil at the KPK’s Red and White Building State Detention House branch.
Subsequently, on 17 March 2026, the KPK detained Gus Alex at the KPK’s Anti-Corruption Education Centre branch detention house.
On the same date, Yaqut Cholil’s family requested the KPK to allow the former minister to be under house arrest. The KPK granted this request, and Yaqut has been under house arrest since 19 March 2026.
On 23 March 2026, the KPK announced it was processing the transfer of Yaqut Cholil’s detention from house arrest back to detention house. On 24 March 2026, Yaqut officially became a detainee at the KPK detention house.
The KPK announced two new suspects in the case on 30 March 2026. They are Maktour’s Operational Director Ismail Adham and Kesthuri General Chairman Asrul Aziz Taba.