KPK Refutes Statement by Gus Alex: Details Will Emerge During Trial
Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has refuted statements made by Ishfah Abidal Aziz, known as Gus Alex, a suspect in the alleged corruption case involving the hajj quota, regarding claims that there were no orders or funds transferred to former Religious Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.
“All the details will certainly be revealed during the trial, specifically concerning the construction of the case, how the unlawful conduct was carried out by those who have been named as suspects, and what role each played in the discretionary process or the alleged receipt of funds from PIHK (special hajj operators),” said KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo at KPK headquarters in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Budi urged the public to follow the case closely once it enters the trial phase. “To jointly observe and examine every fact that emerges during the proceedings,” he said.
The KPK began investigating the alleged corruption involving Indonesia’s hajj quota for 2023–2024 on 9 August 2025. On 11 August 2025, the KPK announced preliminary calculations indicating state losses exceeding Rp1 trillion and issued a six-month travel ban for three individuals: Yaqut, Gus Alex (Yaqut’s special staff), and Fuad Hasan Masyhur (owner of the Maktour hajj service bureau).
On 9 January 2026, the KPK declared two of the three individuals – Yaqut and Gus Alex – as suspects in the alleged hajj quota corruption case. However, Yaqut filed for a pretrial motion at the South Jakarta District Court on 10 February 2026 (case number 19/Pid.Pra/2026/PN JKT.SEL). On 11 March 2026, the judges rejected Yaqut’s pretrial motion.
The KPK detained Yaqut at its detention facility in the Red and White Building on 12 March 2026, followed by Gus Alex’s detention at the KPK’s Education Centre detention facility on 17 March 2026. Upon being escorted to the detention vehicle, Gus Alex stated there were no orders or funds transferred in the hajj quota case to Yaqut.
On 27 February 2026, the KPK announced it had received an audit from the State Audit Board (BPK) regarding state financial losses from the hajj quota case. Subsequently, on 4 March 2026, the KPK revised the state loss figure to Rp622 billion. The travel ban for Yaqut and Gus Alex was extended on 19 February 2026, whilst Fuad’s ban was not renewed.