KPK seizes assets worth over Rp100 billion in Yaqut hajj quota corruption case; former religion minister detained

Indonesia’s Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) has seized funds exceeding Rp100 billion, four vehicles, and five plots of land and buildings related to an alleged corruption case involving additional hajj quotas that is suspected of causing state financial losses totalling Rp622 billion.

The KPK has also detained former Religion Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas for 20 days of investigation into the case involving the 2023–2024 hajj pilgrimage season. The detention occurred after the KPK questioned Yaqut as a suspect on Thursday, 12 March.

“In this case, the KPK has also conducted asset seizures totalling over Rp100 billion, comprising cash amounting to US$3.7 million; Rp22 billion and SAR16,000, as well as four vehicles and five plots of land and buildings,” said KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu during a press conference at the agency’s Jakarta office on Thursday evening.

Besides Yaqut, the KPK has also named Ishfah Abidal Aziz, also known as Gus Alex, as a suspect in the case. He served as Yaqut’s special staff when the latter was Religion Minister.

As of this evening, only Yaqut has been detained by the KPK.

Both are suspected of violating Article 2 paragraph (1) and/or Article 3 of the Anti-Corruption Act (Law No. 31 of 1999) in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.

“Subsequently, today the KPK has detained the suspect Yaqut Cholil Qoumas for an initial 20-day period from 12 to 31 March 2026. The detention is being held at the State Detention Centre (Rutan) of the KPK’s Red and White Building,” said Asep.

Background to the case

The additional hajj quota at issue in the investigation was obtained following a bilateral meeting between Indonesia’s seventh president, Joko Widodo, and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al-Saud on 19 October 2023.

According to Article 64 paragraph 2 of Law No. 8 of 2019 concerning the implementation of hajj and umrah, the special hajj quota is set at 8 per cent of Indonesia’s total hajj quota.

The special hajj quota comprises special pilgrims and special hajj personnel. The remaining 92 per cent is allocated for the regular hajj quota.

The additional 20,000 hajj quotas should have been distributed with 18,400 allocated for regular pilgrims—equivalent to 92 per cent—and 1,600 for the special hajj quota, equivalent to 8 per cent.

Consequently, the regular hajj quota, which originally totalled 203,320, should have increased to 221,720 persons. Meanwhile, the special hajj quota, originally 17,680, should have increased to 19,280 persons.

However, the actual distribution was divided into 10,000 for the regular hajj quota and 10,000 for the special hajj quota.

The KPK believes there was unlawful conduct regarding the distribution of the additional hajj quotas. This assessment has also been supported by expert legal opinion.

Meanwhile, since the outset of handling this case, the KPK has been cooperating with the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) to trace the flow of funds.

KPK witnesses

Numerous witnesses from the Religion Ministry, hajj travel agencies, and associations have been examined.

These include Yaqut Cholil Qoumas; Director General of Hajj and Umrah Implementation at the Religion Ministry Hilman Latief; Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Nahdlatul Ulama organisation and Yaqut’s staff member Ishfah Abidal Aziz, also known as Gus Alex; Deputy Secretary General of the Youth Movement Board of the Ansor movement Syarif Hamzah Asyathry.

Also examined were owners of hajj travel agencies Fuad Hasan Masyhur (Maktour Travel), Khalid Zeed Abdullah Basalamah (PT Zahra Oto Mandiri/Uhud Tour), Ibnu Mas’ud (PT Muhibbah Mulia Wisata Pekanbaru); Secretary of Kesthuri Muhammad Al Fatih; Visa Division of Kesthuri Juahir; Chairman of Sapuhi Syam Resfiadi; and Independent Commissioner of PT Sucofindo Zainal Abidi.

The KPK has also conducted searches at various locations including Yaqut’s residence in Condet, East Jakarta; offices of hajj and umrah travel agencies in Jakarta; the residence of a Religion Ministry civil servant in Depok; and the office of the Directorate General of Hajj and Umrah Implementation at the Religion Ministry.

When escorted to the detention vehicle by the KPK on Thursday evening, Yaqut told gathered journalists: “I have never received a single rupiah from the case I am accused of, and I implemented all of these policies solely for the safety of pilgrims.”