KPK Probes Ex-Ministerial Aide, Traces Alleged Money Flow to Hajj Inquiry Committee

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) confirmed on Wednesday (17/6) that it questioned Mohammad Nuruzzaman, a Special Staff member to the Minister of Religious Affairs for the 2022-2024 period, regarding alleged payments from the Ministry of Religious Affairs to the House of Representatives’ (DPR) Special Committee for the Hajj Angket Inquiry in 2024. The alleged payments are suspected to be linked to the additional hajj quotas for 2023-2024, which are currently under investigation by the anti-corruption agency. “In this examination, investigators are probing and confirming the alleged provision of money from the Ministry of Religious Affairs to the DPR Special Committee,” said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo at his office in Jakarta on Wednesday evening. Budi stated that this verification is crucial, as investigators had previously obtained similar information. “To clarify the nature of the alleged payment, investigators need to conduct in-depth questioning of witnesses, including through today’s examination,” he added. When asked about the potential examination of members of the Hajj Special Committee, Budi said it was a matter for the investigators. Should investigators summon the relevant witnesses, the KPK will inform the public accordingly. “We will see later. The information provided by today’s witness will be reviewed by investigators and compared with the statements of previous witnesses who have also provided information,” Budi explained. In addition to Nuruzzaman, the KPK also examined other witnesses on Tuesday, including M. Agus Syafi’, Head of the Sub-Directorate for Licensing, Accreditation, and Special Hajj Management for the 2023-2024 period; Dedy Supriadi, Director of PT Multazam Wisata Rohani; and Andi Alfiah and A. Alfiah Putri Iriyanto, Directors of PT Jazirah Iman. The KPK is investigating the witnesses’ accounts regarding the filling of hajj quotas by Special Hajj Organisers (PIHK). The KPK also examined suspect Ishfah Abidal Aziz, also known as Gus Alex, to complete his case file. Previously, on Monday, 13 April, the KPK announced it had examined a witness with the initials ZA, who is suspected of acting as an intermediary for the flow of money from the Ministry of Religious Affairs to the DPR’s Hajj Special Committee. “Regarding the 1 million US dollars that was returned, the fact we found is that there is indeed a witness named ZA who acted as an intermediary for the handover of money to members of the Special Committee. We have also conducted an examination,” said Acting Director of KPK Investigations Achmad Taufik Husein during a press conference at his office in Jakarta on Monday evening. In the alleged corruption case involving the 2023-2024 hajj quotas, the KPK has named four suspects. They are former Minister of Religious Affairs for the 2019-2024 period Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, his Special Staff member Ishfah Abidal Aziz alias Gus Alex, Operational Director of PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour) Ismail Adham, and Commissioner of PT Raudah Eksati Utama and Chairman of the Kesthuri Association Asrul Azis Taba. The KPK stated it will transfer the suspects’ case files to the Corruption Court simultaneously. During the ongoing investigation, the KPK has identified more than 300 travel agencies involved in the additional hajj quotas. A number of travel agencies have been hesitant to provide information regarding the practice of buying and selling additional hajj 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) 1st 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. This article relates to state financial losses. Based on calculations by the audit team of the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), the alleged corruption case involving the additional hajj quotas for 2023-2024 is suspected of causing state financial losses amounting to Rp622 billion.