KPK Probes Involvement of State Officials in 2023-2024 Hajj Quota Case
The KPK has named a total of four suspects in the corruption case concerning the 2023-2024 Hajj quotas. The KPK is currently conducting further investigations into the involvement of state officials and private parties in the case.
The two newly named private sector suspects are Ismail Adham (ISM), Director of Operations at PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour), and Asrul Azis Taba (ASR), Commissioner of PT Raudah Eksati Utama and Chairman of the Kesthuri Association. Previously, the KPK named Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (YCQ) and his former special staff member Isfah Abidal Azis (IAA), also known as Gus Alex, as suspects, bringing the total to four.
“There are several individuals we are investigating further. This includes Mr Dirjen PHU (Hilman Latief), Mr FHM, and others, so we await further developments, as this will not end here. We are also continuing efforts to complete information and documents,” said KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu during a press conference at the KPK building in South Jakarta on Monday (30/3/2026).
Roles of the Two New Suspects
Previously, Asep had revealed the roles of the two new suspects in the Hajj quota corruption case, namely Ismail and Asrul. Asep explained that evidence was found of the active involvement of both suspects in arranging the allocation of additional special Hajj quotas. The KPK also alleged the provision of money to state officials.
“Suspects ISM and ASR, together with Mr FHM (Fuad Hasan Mashyur) as Chairman of the SATHU Forum and other parties, held meetings with Mr YCQ (former Minister Yaqut) and IAA, with the aim of requesting an increase in special Hajj quotas exceeding the 8% limit as stipulated by law. In the process, regular and special Hajj quotas were divided on a 50-50% scheme,” Asep stated.
Asep said that Ismail and Asrul, along with parties from the Ministry of Religious Affairs at the time, arranged the filling of additional special Hajj quotas for companies affiliated with Maktour, thereby securing the additional special Hajj quotas.
“This includes Hajj quotas under the accelerated departure scheme (T0),” Asep added.
Suspect Ismail is also alleged to have given money to Isfah Abidal Azis, the former special staff to Yaqut, amounting to USD 30,000, and to Hilman Latief, Director General of Hajj and Umrah Organising (Dirjen PHU) at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, USD 5,000 and 16,000 SAR.
“For these actions, PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour) obtained illegal gains in 2024 amounting to approximately Rp 27.8 billion,” Asep said.
Meanwhile, suspect Asrul is alleged to have given USD 406,000 to Yaqut’s former special staff. For this provision, Hajj organisers affiliated with Asrul also gained illegal profits in 2024 amounting to Rp 40.8 billion.
“Suspect ASR is alleged to have given a sum of money to Mr IAA amounting to USD 406,000,” Asep said.
“The receipt of money by IAA and HL from the suspects is alleged to represent Mr YCQ as the Religious Affairs Minister at the time,” he continued.