KPK Questioned Former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Today
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) scheduled questioning of former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas as a suspect in an alleged corruption case involving additional hajj quotas on Thursday, 12 March. The interrogation occurred one day after a single judge at South Jakarta District Court (PN Jakarta Selatan), Sulistyo Muhammad Dwi Putro, ruled in favour of the KPK in rejecting Yaqut’s pre-trial motion.
“Confirmed, today Thursday (12 March), investigators have scheduled questioning of Yaqut Cholil Qoumas in the alleged corruption case related to hajj quotas for the implementation of Indonesia’s hajj pilgrimage in 2023-2024,” stated KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo when contacted in writing on Thursday (12 March).
“We believe the person in question will cooperate and respond to this summons,” he added.
Previously, following victory in the pre-trial process, KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu stated that handling the alleged additional hajj quota corruption case had become a priority for completion. This was particularly so given that the Investigation Order (Sprindik) was already issued in August of the previous year.
Asep assured that the KPK would quickly conclude handling of the case.
“As quickly as possible because this is a matter where the investigation order was issued last year, from August if I recall correctly, this has been progressing continuously, which is why it has become a priority,” he said at PN Jakarta Selatan on Wednesday (11 March).
When questioned regarding the detention of Yaqut, Asep explained that many factors needed consideration, including case handling strategy. This was particularly relevant as there was another suspect in the case: Yaqut’s special staff, Ishfah Abidal Aziz, also known as Gus Alex.
“Many matters need our consideration. It is not just about meeting the legal elements but how we handle the case. This case does not involve only one suspect; there are other suspects,” Asep explained.
“Regarding detention, this is part of our strategy. We consider how to handle the case and other matters. We will give this thought. If our considerations are appropriate, of course we will not delay,” he stressed.
Yaqut and Ishfah have been designated by the KPK as suspects in the alleged additional hajj quota corruption case. However, both remain undetained to date. The KPK previously stated it respected the ongoing pre-trial process.
Nevertheless, the KPK has requested the Directorate General of Immigration to again prevent Yaqut and Ishfah from leaving the country for six months until 12 August 2026.
During the ongoing investigation, the KPK has conducted searches at several locations including Yaqut’s residence in Condet, East Jakarta, offices of hajj and umrah travel agencies in Jakarta, the residence of civil servants from the Religious Affairs Ministry in Depok, and the office of the Directorate General for Hajj and Umrah Implementation (PHU) of the Religious Affairs Ministry.
Many items allegedly related to the case were seized. These include documents, electronic evidence (BBE), and four-wheeled vehicles and property.
Based on calculations by the Financial Audit Board (BPK), the state is alleged to have suffered losses of approximately 622.090.207.166,41 rupiah (622 billion rupiah) from the alleged additional hajj quota corruption case for the 2023 and 2024 pilgrimage administration.
This figure was released some time later, well after Yaqut and Ishfah were designated and announced by the KPK as suspects.
Yaqut had sought to escape legal consequences by filing a pre-trial motion. However, this effort failed.
The single judge at PN Jakarta Selatan, Sulistyo Muhammad Dwi Putro, rejected the pre-trial motion in case number: 19/Pid.Pra/2026 on behalf of petitioner Yaqut Cholil Qoumas in its entirety.
“The Court rules: in the principal matter: reject the pre-trial petitioner’s request in its entirety,” said the judge in the Oemar Seno Adji courtroom at PN Jakarta Selatan on Wednesday (11 March).
The judge stated that the designation of Yaqut as a suspect by the KPK conformed to Constitutional Court Decision No. 21 of 2014 dated 28 April 2015 and Supreme Court Regulation (Perma) No. 4 of 2016, as well as the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP).