KPK Opens Possibility of Summoning Maktour Owner After Charging Two New Suspects
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has opened the possibility of summoning the owner of PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour), Fuad Hasan Masyhur, after designating two new suspects in the alleged corruption case concerning the 2023-2024 Hajj quota.
The two new suspects are Maktour’s Operations Director, Ismail Adham, and Asrul Azis Taba, who serves as Commissioner of PT Raudah Eksati Utama and Chairman of the Kesthuri Association.
They follow former Religious Affairs Minister for 2019-2024, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, and his Special Staff, Ishfah Abidal Aziz alias Gus Alex, who were previously detained by the KPK.
“We cannot yet confirm the timing. The possibility is certainly open because, from the explanations we have provided, we have outlined the structure and the roles of the relevant parties in the alleged sequence of events or unlawful acts by the parties in the investigation of this Hajj quota case,” stated KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo when confirmed via written message on Tuesday (7/4).
Budi emphasised that investigators require statements from witnesses who know about the arrangement of the 2023-2024 Hajj quota. Fuad Hasan, he said, is one of the parties in question.
“Of course, statements from every witness are very important to assist investigators in uncovering this case, including from Mr FHM [Fuad Hasan Masyhur],” Budi remarked.
“Previously, we also explained how FHM was involved in the SATHU forum, meaning pre-discretion or before the Ministry of Religious Affairs set the Hajj quota division at 50:50 percent. It is alleged that there were meetings between parties from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and private parties, in this case the SATHU forum, associations, and other parties,” he continued.
Budi stated that investigators consider it important to delve into the substance of those meetings, including the division of special and regular Hajj quotas into a 50:50 percent scheme, as well as the alleged flow of funds.
“Of course, it’s not just that; then we move to post-discretion, how the roles of these associations were in the distribution of the additional Hajj quota that significantly increased from 8 percent to 50 percent to be managed by PIHK [Special Hajj Organisers] because this forum oversees several associations, and each association also oversees PIHK or travel bureaus,” Budi explained.
Roles of Ismail and Asrul
Ismail and Asrul are alleged to have actively participated in arranging the filling of the additional special Hajj quota in a manner not in accordance with legal regulations, as well as providing certain sums of money to state officials.
The two suspects, together with Fuad Hasan Masyhur as the Advisory Board of the SATHU Forum (Silaturahmi Forum of Hajj and Umrah Travel Associations) and other parties, held meetings with Yaqut and Ishfah.
The meetings aimed to request an increase in the special Hajj quota exceeding the 8 percent limit as stipulated in legal regulations.
Consequently, the regular and special Hajj quotas were divided under a 50 percent-50 percent scheme.
Subsequently, Ismail and Asrul, together with parties from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, arranged the filling of the additional special Hajj quota for companies affiliated with Maktour, thereby obtaining additional special Hajj quotas, including quotas under the accelerated departure scheme (T0).
“Suspect ISM [Ismail Adham] is alleged to have given a sum of money to IAA [Ishfah Abidal Aziz] amounting to US$30,000, and to Mr HL [Hilman Latief, Director General of Hajj and Umrah Organising at the Ministry of Religious Affairs] amounting to US$5,000 and 16,000 SAR,” stated KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution, Asep Guntur Rahayu, during a press conference on Monday (30/3).
For these actions, Maktour obtained illicit gains in 2024 amounting to approximately Rp27.8 billion.
“Meanwhile, suspect ASR [Asrul Azis Taba] is alleged to have given a sum of money to Mr IAA amounting to US$406,000,” Asep continued.
For this giving, Asep said, 8 PIHK affiliated with Asrul also obtained illicit gains in 2024 totaling Rp40.8 billion.
“The receipt of sums of money by IAA and HL from the suspects is alleged to represent Mr YCQ [Yaqut Cholil Qoumas], the Religious Affairs Minister at the time,” Asep stated.