KPK Says House Arrest Status for Yaqut is Case Handling Strategy

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has revealed that the house arrest status of former Minister of Religious Affairs (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas is a strategy for handling the case.

Yaqut’s status was changed to house arrest by the KPK on Thursday (19/3). As of Tuesday (24/3), he has returned to house detention.

“In this case, this is a strategy in handling the case so that it can proceed smoothly,” said Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK, Asep Guntur Rahayu, at the KPK building in Kuningan, South Jakarta.

According to Asep, returning Yaqut’s status from house arrest to detention requires time because the former minister must undergo a health assessment process.

He stated that the health assessment was conducted since Monday afternoon (23/3) at the Central Police Hospital in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta.

The Kramat Jati Police Hospital was chosen because it is close to Yaqut’s residence.

Furthermore, the availability of equipment and expert doctors there was also a consideration in selecting that hospital.

On Wednesday (25/3), the KPK plans to again seek information from Yaqut regarding the Hajj quota corruption case.

“Tomorrow, there is already a scheduled request for information from the person concerned. Secondly, tomorrow we also plan to have progress, yes, related to the handling of the Hajj quota,” said Asep.

He also revealed that Yaqut suffers from acute GERD and asthma.

With that condition, the KPK had granted Yaqut’s request for house arrest in the alleged Hajj quota corruption case.

“(Yaqut) has undergone endoscopy and colonoscopy. I’m not too familiar with that medical term, perhaps colleagues can check later. (Yaqut) also suffers from asthma,” said Asep.