KPK Responds After Being Dragged to Oversight Board Over Gus Yaqut Case
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has responded to the action taken by Boyamin Saiman, Coordinator of the Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society (MAKI), who reported the agency’s leadership, investigators, and spokesperson to the Oversight Board (Dewas). The report concerns the transfer of detention for former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, also known as Gus Yaqut.
KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo emphasised that the reporting is a legitimate part of public oversight mechanisms regarding the anti-corruption body’s duties.
“KPK respects every report submitted by the public to the Oversight Board. Such public participation is an important element in maintaining the accountability and integrity of the KPK,” Budi stated in a written release in Jakarta on Wednesday (25/3).
In response to MAKI’s allegations of irregularities and lack of transparency in Yaqut’s house arrest status, Budi assured that all steps taken by the investigative team and leadership have followed applicable legal corridors.
“KPK ensures that all processes and actions taken have been carried out in accordance with mechanisms, procedures, and applicable legal regulations,” he said.
Budi believes the Oversight Board will process the report fairly without intervention. He stated that KPK is committed to cooperating with any internal ethical audit process that may occur within Dewas.
“We believe the Oversight Board will follow up on the report objectively, professionally, and independently,” Budi said.
KPK stated it remains open to all forms of oversight to maintain public trust, which has recently come under spotlight due to the detention controversy. Budi stressed that going forward, KPK will continue to carry out its anti-corruption duties transparently and accountably.
Previously, Boyamin officially reported the KPK leadership, investigators, and spokesperson to the Oversight Board (Dewas) on Wednesday (25/3/2026). This report stems from the controversy over changing the detention status of the suspect in the hajj quota corruption case, former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, to house arrest.
Boyamin highlighted several crucial points in his report, including allegations of allowing external interventions by KPK leadership in the detention transfer process.
“KPK leadership is suspected of allowing external interventions in KPK and not reporting it to Dewas. This refers to the jurisprudence of Anwar Usman’s dismissal from the Constitutional Court for allowing external interventions in case number 90,” Boyamin said after submitting the report letter on Wednesday (25/3).
Boyamin pointed out inconsistencies in information between KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo and Deputy for Enforcement Asep Guntur Rahayu. Boyamin assessed that KPK conducted a secretive process when releasing Yaqut from the detention centre two days before Eid, under the pretext of additional examinations.
“The spokesperson said YCQ was healthy when transferred, but the Deputy for Enforcement said he had GERD and asthma. This is contradictory. Even Mr Asep Guntur is suspected of ordering the transfer without prior health checks from competent doctors,” he asserted.
Boyamin also highlighted that the house arrest status was exposed starting from information from the family of Immanuel Ebenezer and media suspicions, not from KPK transparency. This is considered a violation of public information disclosure principles.
Boyamin suspects the detention transfer was not decided collectively by KPK leadership, thus deemed legally flawed and violating Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and ethical codes.
“There are allegations of special treatment. The transfer to house arrest without strong objective reasons erodes public trust in KPK as the frontline in anti-corruption efforts,” said Boyamin.
Boyamin requested the KPK Oversight Board to conduct an ethical examination of the leadership and investigators involved in the detention transfer decision. He also asked the Oversight Board to assess whether the decision upholds the principle of equality before the law. Furthermore, he requested the Oversight Board to transparently convey the examination results to the public to restore public trust.