KPK Receives BPK Calculation in Yaqut Era Hajj Quota Corruption Case: State Loss Confirmed

The Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) has stated that calculation of alleged state losses in the 2023-2024 hajj quota corruption case has been completed, with the KPK having received the report from the Supreme Audit Board (BPK).

“The calculation has indeed been completed,” said KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu at KPK headquarters in Kuningan, South Jakarta, on Friday (27 February 2025).

However, he was reluctant to disclose the amount of the loss, stating that the KPK was still awaiting pre-trial hearings filed by former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, one of the suspects in this case.

“There is indeed a clause in our new law where we are waiting for that first, what is it called, pre-trial,” he said.

He noted that the state loss calculation is one of the key points in proving the case. He stated that state losses did occur in this matter.

“Naturally, the result of this state loss calculation also serves as evidence that we are handling this case as we should. There is loss and we have also fulfilled the other statutory elements,” he explained.

For context, this hajj quota corruption case relates to the distribution of an additional 20,000 pilgrims for the 2024 hajj quota during Yaqut Cholil Qoumas’s tenure as Religious Affairs Minister. The additional quota was intended to reduce the queue or waiting period for regular Indonesian pilgrims, which could extend to 20 years or more.

Before the additional quota, Indonesia received a hajj allocation of 221,000 pilgrims in 2024. Following the increase, Indonesia’s total 2024 hajj quota rose to 241,000. The problem began when the additional quota was distributed equally: 10,000 for regular hajj and 10,000 for special hajj.

However, the Hajj Law stipulates that special hajj quota should only comprise 8 per cent of Indonesia’s total hajj quota. Ultimately, Indonesia allocated 213,320 spots for regular pilgrims and 27,680 for special hajj pilgrims in 2024.

The KPK stated that Yaqut’s policy resulted in 8,400 regular pilgrims who had been waiting more than 14 years being unable to depart, despite the additional quota in 2024.

Following its investigation, the KPK designated Yaqut and his former special staff member, Ishfah Abidal Aziz (IAA), also known as Gus Alex, as suspects. The KPK confirmed it has secured substantial evidence supporting these designations. Yaqut has not been detained to date.