KPK Reveals Reasons for Repeatedly Examining Hajj Travel Agencies in Case of Former Minister Yaqut
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has examined several organisers of special Hajj pilgrimages (PIHK) or travel agencies in the alleged corruption case concerning the 2023-2024 Hajj quota. The KPK stated that this is being done to recover state losses or for asset recovery.
“Because in practice on the ground, the buying and selling, mechanisms, and sale values of the quotas vary. Therefore, we need to conduct in-depth investigations with each PIHK that carried out the sale or processing of special Hajj quotas originating from those additional Hajj quotas,” said KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to reporters on Thursday (16/4/2026).
He said the KPK is striving to recover assets from the unlawful profits obtained by the travel agencies. He mentioned that these unlawful profits are suspected to have occurred due to collusion between the travel agencies and parties from the Ministry of Religious Affairs at that time.
“In addition, we are still focusing on efforts to optimise asset recovery from the alleged illegal gains or unlawful profits obtained or received by the PIHK or travel agencies in filling those special Hajj quotas,” he added.
The KPK has previously named four suspects in this case. They are:
Former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (YCQ)
Former Special Staff to Yaqut, Ishfah Abidal Azis alias Gus Alex (IAA)
Operational Director of PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour) Ismail Adham (ISM)
Chairman of the Kesthuri Association Asrul Azis Taba (ASR).
KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu said Ismail is suspected of giving USD 30,000 to Gus Alex. Asep said Ismail also allegedly handed over USD 5,000 to Hilman Latief (HL), the Director General of Hajj and Umrah Organisation at the Ministry of Religious Affairs in 2024. Hilman remains a witness in this case.
“Suspect ISM is suspected of giving a sum of money to IAA amounting to USD 30,000 as well as to Mr HL, as the Director General of Hajj and Umrah Organisation of the Directorate General of PHU at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, amounting to USD 5,000 and SAR 16,000,” said Asep during a press conference at the KPK building in South Jakarta on Monday (30/3).
Asep said Maktour is suspected of obtaining unlawful profits or illegal gains after giving that money. In 2024, according to Asep, the illegal profits obtained by Maktour reached Rp 27.8 billion.
Meanwhile, suspect Asrul Azis Taba (ASR) is suspected of giving USD 406,000 to Gus Alex related to the additional Hajj quota. Asep said the distribution of the additional quota for special Hajj has benefited eight PIHK.
He said Gus Alex and Hilman represented Yaqut when receiving money from Ismail and Asrul. He said Yaqut had appointed both of them to handle the needs of the PIHK.
The KPK stated that the state losses in this case amount to Rp 622 billion. The figure for state losses is the result of calculations by the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPK).