KPK Reveals Reason for Not Extending Travel Ban on Maktour Boss in Hajj Quota Case
KPK Chairman Setyo Budiyanto has disclosed why the overseas travel ban on Maktour owner Fuad Hasan was not extended in the 2023–2024 hajj quota corruption case, stating the decision was based on investigators’ deliberations.
“There were certain considerations from the investigators, so only two individuals were put forward for an extension of the travel ban,” Setyo said at the KPK’s Juang Building in Kuningan, South Jakarta, on Friday (20 February 2026).
Setyo explained that one key consideration was a provision in the new Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) stipulating that travel bans may only be imposed on individuals with suspect status.
“That is indeed one of the reasons from a regulatory and legal standpoint. With the enactment of the new KUHAP, prevention measures can only be applied to suspects, not witnesses,” Setyo clarified.
He noted that investigators are currently focused on deepening their examination of the two suspects: former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, known as Gus Yaqut, and his former special adviser Ishfah Abidal Aziz, alias Gus Alex.
Separately, Setyo indicated that investigators would also be conducting further inquiries to uncover the private-sector cluster allegedly involved in the hajj case.
“For now, the focus is on the two suspects. Everything will come from the results of examinations, evidence, testimony, documents and other witnesses. For now there are only two — as for further developments, we shall see,” he concluded.
Previously, the KPK confirmed it had discontinued the overseas travel ban on Maktour Travel owner Fuad Hasan Masyhur. Fuad had earlier been banned from travelling abroad in connection with the alleged hajj quota corruption.
“No, the travel ban was not extended,” KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo told reporters on Thursday (19 February).
Budi explained that the KPK only extended the travel bans for former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and his former special adviser Ishfah Abidal Aziz, noting the bans were necessary for the investigation.
The hajj quota corruption case concerns the distribution of an additional 20,000 pilgrim places for the 2024 hajj season during Yaqut Cholil Qoumas’s tenure as Religious Affairs Minister. The additional quota was intended to reduce the queue — or waiting period — for regular Indonesian hajj pilgrims, which can extend to 20 years or more.
Prior to the additional allocation, Indonesia received a hajj quota of 221,000 pilgrims for 2024. After the increase, the total quota rose to 241,000. The crux of the problem arose when the additional quota was divided equally: 10,000 for regular hajj and 10,000 for special hajj.
However, the Hajj Law stipulates that the special hajj quota should constitute only 8 per cent of Indonesia’s total hajj quota. Ultimately, Indonesia allocated 213,320 places for regular hajj pilgrims and 27,680 for special hajj pilgrims in 2024.
The KPK has stated that the policy under Yaqut’s era caused 8,400 regular hajj pilgrims — who had been queuing for more than 14 years and should have been able to depart following the additional 2024 quota — to miss their departure.
The KPK’s investigation subsequently led to the designation of Yaqut and his former special adviser Ishfah Abidal Aziz (IAA), alias Gus Alex, as suspects. The KPK has affirmed it possesses a series of evidence supporting the suspect designations. Yaqut has not yet been detained.