KPK Prosecutors: Former Minister Yaqut Enriched Himself by Rp 4.8 Billion in Hajj Quota Corruption

Prosecutors from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) have indicted former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas for allegedly enriching himself by USD 271,500 (approximately Rp 4.8 billion) in a corruption case involving the allocation of additional special hajj quotas for 2023-2024. The indictment was read out at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Tuesday (11/8/2026).

KPK prosecutors stated that Yaqut, along with his former special aide Ishfah Abidal Azis (also known as Gus Alex), PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour) Operations Director Ismail Adham, and Kesthuri Association Chairman Asrul Azis Taba, orchestrated a mechanism to fill the additional special hajj quotas. This was done to accommodate requests from the Association of Special Hajj Organisers (PIHK) in a manner that contravened prevailing regulations.

The scheme involved filling the additional special hajj quotas for 2023 and 2024 with pilgrims who had no waiting period, or whose waiting period did not comply with the applicable mechanisms. The prosecution detailed that the corruption resulted in illicit enrichment for multiple parties, including 313 Special Hajj Organisers (PIHK) and the Perahu Cooperative, with total state losses calculated at Rp 622 billion.

Beyond the former minister, the indictment lists significant sums received by other individuals. Ishfah Abidal Azis allegedly received USD 5,233,800 and Rp 330 million, while other associates received amounts ranging from USD 3,000 to over USD 600,000. The 313 PIHK corporations were collectively enriched by Rp 478,173,058,166.41, and the Perahu Cooperative received USD 26,500.