KPK schedules summons and detention of Gus Alex next week
Jakarta — Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has scheduled the summons and detention of Ishfah Abidal Aziz, also known as Gus Alex, a former special staff member to Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, for next week.
“We have already summoned the individual in question for next week,” stated Asep Guntur Rahayu, Deputy for Prosecution and Execution at the KPK, at the KPK’s Red and White Building in Jakarta on Thursday.
As a result, Asep called on all parties to await further developments in the hajj quota case following the KPK’s detention of Yaqut on Thursday, 12 March.
“So we ask for your patience,” he said.
Previously, on 9 August 2025, the KPK announced the initiation of an investigation into alleged corruption related to Indonesia’s hajj quota allocation for 2023-2024. On 11 August 2025, the KPK announced preliminary calculations showing state losses exceeding Rp1 trillion and issued travel bans for three individuals for six months. Those banned from travel were Yaqut, Ishfah Abidal Aziz (IAA) also known as Gus Alex as Yaqut’s staff member, and Fuad Hasan Masyhur, owner of the Maktour hajj organisation bureau.
On 9 January 2026, the KPK announced that two of the three individuals subject to travel bans had become suspects in the alleged hajj quota corruption case: Yaqut and Gus Alex.
However, Yaqut filed a pre-trial motion challenging his suspect designation with the Jakarta South District Court on 10 February 2026, registered as case number 19/Pid.Pra/2026/PN JKT.SEL.
On 19 February 2026, the KPK announced an extension of the travel ban for only Yaqut and Gus Alex, whilst Fuad’s ban was not extended. On 27 February 2026, the KPK announced it had received an audit from Indonesia’s Supreme Audit Board (BPK RI) regarding state financial losses from the hajj quota case. Subsequently, on 4 March 2026, the KPK announced that state financial losses from the case had reached Rp622 billion.
On 11 March 2026, the panel of judges at Jakarta South District Court rejected Yaqut’s pre-trial motion. On 12 March 2026, the KPK detained Yaqut at the State Detention Centre, KPK Red and White Building branch.