KPK respects court's rejection of Yaqut's judicial review on hajj quota corruption case

Jakarta — The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has expressed its respect for the ruling by the South Jakarta District Court judge who rejected the judicial review petition filed by former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas in the alleged corruption case concerning additional hajj quotas for the 2023-2024 hajj pilgrimage.

“I wish to express our appreciation and respect for the court’s ruling,” said Asep Guntur Rahayu, KPK Deputy for Prosecution and Execution, at the South Jakarta District Court on Wednesday. “Of course, we respect the decision made by the panel.”

Rahayu stated that the KPK can proceed with investigating the case to the next stage following the judicial review decision.

The KPK’s Legal Bureau team member Indah Oktianti also commended the premedial hearing decision at the South Jakarta District Court. “We greatly respect the judge’s ruling because the judge stated in his consideration that the KPK designated the petitioner as a suspect based on two pieces of evidence, in accordance with the Constitutional Court decision, the Criminal Procedure Code, and the Supreme Court Regulation 4 of 2016. Thus, it is in compliance with the applicable legislation,” Indah said.

Previously, the single judge at the South Jakarta District Court rejected the judicial review petition filed by former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas regarding his suspect status in the hajj quota corruption case. The judge declared Yaqut’s suspect designation valid.

“I reject the entire judicial review petition filed by the petitioner,” announced single judge Sulistyo Muhamad Dwi Putro.

“I impose no costs on the petitioner,” Sulistyo stated.

The KPK earlier reported that state losses in the alleged corruption case involving additional hajj quotas for the 2023-2024 pilgrimage, with former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas as the suspect, reached Rp622 billion.

In its response, the KPK stated that the designation of Gus Yaqut as a suspect in the hajj quota case complied with legal procedures, having met the minimum requirement of two valid pieces of evidence. More than 40 individuals have been questioned in accordance with the Request for Information report bearing Yaqut Cholil Qoumas’s name.

The KPK’s legal team stated that the designation of Gus Yaqut as a suspect underwent a series of data collection, information gathering, statement-taking and investigation processes, thereby satisfying the sufficiency of evidence requirement through two pieces of evidence.