KPK Reiterates That Yaqut Cholil Qoumas’s Designation as a Suspect Is Valid, Based on More Than 40 Witnesses and More Than 200 Documents

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.COM - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has stressed that the designation of a suspect against former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas was carried out in accordance with legal procedures and based on more than two admissible pieces of evidence. The assertion was made by KPK as the respondent in the duplicative submissions in the pre-trial case No. 19/Pid.Pra/2026 at the South Jakarta District Court on Wednesday, 4 March 2026. In its reply, KPK maintained its previous position and rejected all of the applicant’s arguments, save for those expressly acknowledged. KPK explained that the suspect designation was made after a process of investigation and prosecution into alleged corruption related to haj pilgrimage arrangements in the 2023–2024 period at the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. The evidentiary items include statements from more than 40 witnesses recorded in the examination records, expert testimony, and more than 200 documents seized and examined by investigators. In addition, KPK secured electronic evidence, including one mobile phone and other digital data. KPK also disclosed that it had conducted a case briefing with the Audit Board of Indonesia (BPK). From those examinations, suspected irregularities were found in the process of allocating additional Hajj quotas, the allocation of special Hajj quotas not in accordance with the provisions, and the flow of funds in organising special Hajj for 2023 and 2024. The case handling began from public information which was followed by review and the issuance of an investigation order in October 2024, before being escalated to the investigative stage. To date, the investigative process remains underway to complete and strengthen the evidence of the applicant’s alleged involvement. Regarding the applicant’s argument about the application of the new Penal Code, KPK emphasised that the matter remains governed by the criminal procedure law as set out in Law No. 8 of 1981 on Criminal Procedure because the investigation began before the 2026 enactment of the new Penal Code.