KPK Schedules Examination of Maktour Boss Fuad Hasan Today

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has scheduled an examination of PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour) President Director Fuad Hasan Masyhur today, Monday (15/6). Fuad will be questioned as a witness in the alleged corruption case concerning additional hajj quotas for 2023-2024. “Today, investigators have rescheduled the examination of witness FHM [Fuad Hasan Masyhur], the owner of the Maktour hajj travel agency,” said KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo in a written statement on Monday (15/6). Budi explained that investigators wish to delve into Fuad’s alleged knowledge of the management of the additional hajj quotas, from the initial distribution process to the filling of quotas by Special Hajj Organisers (PIHK). “His testimony is needed by investigators to complete the case file. The KPK believes FHM will attend and provide his statement during today’s examination,” Budi stated. Fuad was originally summoned for questioning on Tuesday, 2 June, but was unable to attend as he was performing the hajj pilgrimage. Fuad, who is also a Board Advisor for Forum Sathu (the Communication Forum for Hajj and Umrah Travel Associations), along with several other parties, allegedly held meetings with officials at the Ministry of Religious Affairs to request an increase in the special hajj quota exceeding the 8 percent provision stipulated in the legislation. The lobbying was reportedly successful, resulting in a distribution of regular and special hajj quotas under a 50 percent-50 percent scheme. The additional 20,000 hajj quotas should have been distributed with 18,400 for regular pilgrims, equivalent to 92 percent, and 1,600 for special hajj pilgrims, equivalent to 8 percent. Consequently, the regular hajj quota, originally 203,320, should have increased to 221,720 people, while the special hajj quota, originally 17,680, should have increased to 19,280 people. However, an unlawful act was allegedly committed when the then Minister of Religious Affairs, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, signed Decree Number 130 of 2024, which regulated a 50 percent quota distribution for regular hajj and 50 percent for special hajj. To date, the KPK is processing four suspects in the alleged corruption case involving additional hajj quotas for 2023-2024. They are Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and his Special Staff member Ishfah Abidal Aziz, also known as Gus Alex, as well as Maktour Operational Director Ismail Adham and Kesthuri Association Chairman who is also a Commissioner of PT Raudah Eksati Utama, Asrul Azis Taba, who was only detained on 8 June. The KPK will transfer the case files of the four suspects to court simultaneously. During the ongoing investigation, the KPK has identified more than 300 travel agencies involved in the additional hajj quotas. A number of travel agencies have been hesitant to provide information regarding the practice of buying and selling additional hajj quotas. The KPK is applying Article 2 paragraph (1) and/or Article 3 of the Corruption Eradication Law in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) 1st of the Criminal Code, or as referred to in Article 603 or Article 604 of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 20 letter c of the Criminal Code Law. This article relates to state financial losses. Based on calculations by the audit team of the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), the alleged corruption case involving additional hajj quotas for 2023-2024 is suspected to have caused state financial losses amounting to Rp622 billion.