KPK Reveals Rp18 Billion Fund Flow Intended for DPR Hajj Special Committee
The Corruption Eradability Commission (KPK) has revealed new findings in the investigation into alleged corruption regarding the 2023-2024 Indonesian Hajj quota. The anti-corruption agency has detected funds amounting to US$1 million, or approximately Rp18 billion, which were allegedly prepared to bribe the Special Committee (Pansus) on the Right of Inquiry for Hajj of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI).
The Acting Director of Investigations at the KPK, Achmad Taufik Husein, stated that US$406,000 flowing from the former Chairman of Kesthuri, Asrul Azis Taba (ASR), to the Special Staff to the Minister of Religious Affairs, Ishfah Abidal Aziz (alias Gus Alex), represents a portion of this total commitment. “The US$406,000 mentioned is a small part of the one million US dollars,” Taufik stated at the KPK Red and White Building in Jakarta on Monday night.
Based on in-depth findings, the KPK discovered information that the US$1 million fund was prepared by parties within the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag). However, Taufik explained that the money ultimately did not reach the members of the DPR Hajj Special Committee. “This means the intention was there, but the handover from the Special Committee side has not yet occurred,” Taufik clarified. Investigators obtained this information from several witnesses, including an individual identified by the initials ZA, who is suspected of acting as an intermediary for the fund flow from the Ministry to Parliament.
The KPK emphasised that it is continuing to investigate the involvement of other parties aware of the planned payment. In this case, the KPK has named several key suspects. The then-Minister of Religious Affairs, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, along with his special staff, Ishfah Abidal Aziz, is suspected of managing Hajj quotas illegally, leading to massive state losses. Meanwhile, Asrul Aziz Taba and Ismail Adham from the private sector are suspected of playing roles in providing funds and technical coordination that deviated from official procedures. Although a travel agency owner, Fuad Hasan Masyhur, was previously subject to a travel ban, he has not yet been named a suspect by the KPK.
The case emerged following allegations of manipulation regarding the distribution of 20,000 additional Hajj quotas provided by the Saudi Arabian government. The KPK has extended the detention of the former Minister of Religious Affairs for the next 40 days to accelerate the investigation and ensure legal certainty. The agency has also seized US$1 million from the intermediary ZA, which was allegedly prepared by Yaqut Cholil Qoumas for the DPR Hajj Special Committee.