KPK Reveals New Reason for Detaining Yaqut: We Do Not Want to Rush
Jakarta — The Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has revealed that one of the reasons for detaining Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (YCQ), the former Religious Affairs Minister implicated in the hajj quota corruption case, was to avoid acting hastily.
“Why such a lengthy period? Naturally, we do not want to rush,” stated Asep Guntur Rahayu, Deputy for Prosecution and Execution at the KPK, at the KPK’s Red and White Building in Jakarta on Thursday.
Additionally, Asep explained that another reason was the KPK’s intention to consolidate evidence first to ensure sufficient evidentiary support before deciding to implement compulsory detention measures.
Meanwhile, he noted that Yaqut’s designation as a suspect had been tested in pre-trial proceedings at the South Jakarta District Court.
“In the pre-trial hearing decided on Wednesday, 11 March 2026, the pre-trial petition filed by Mr YCQ was rejected. This means that the suspect status designation carried out by KPK investigators against Mr YCQ was formally correct,” he stated.
On 11 August 2025, the KPK announced an initial calculation of state losses in the case had exceeded 1 trillion rupiah and issued travel bans against three individuals for up to six months. These individuals were Yaqut, Ishfah Abidal Aziz (IAA), known as Gus Alex, a staff member of Yaqut, and Fuad Hasan Masyhur, owner of the Maktour hajj travel agency.
On 9 January 2026, the KPK announced that two of the three individuals subject to travel bans had become suspects in the alleged hajj quota corruption case: Yaqut and Gus Alex.
However, Yaqut filed a pre-trial petition challenging his suspect status with the South Jakarta District Court on 10 February 2026, registered under case number 19/Pid.Pra/2026/PN JKT.SEL.
On 19 February 2026, the KPK announced an extension of the travel ban for both Yaqut and Gus Alex only. Fuad’s ban was not extended.
On 27 February 2026, the KPK announced receipt of an audit from the State Audit Board regarding state financial losses resulting from the hajj quota case. Subsequently, on 4 March 2026, the KPK announced that the state financial loss from the case had reached 622 billion rupiah.
On 11 March 2026, the panel of judges at South Jakarta District Court rejected Yaqut’s pre-trial petition.