KPK Seizes USD 1 Million Intended for Yaqut to Influence Hajj Special Committee
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has seized USD 1 million related to the alleged corruption case involving Hajj quotas. The money was allegedly intended to be used by former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, or Gus Yaqut, to influence the Special Committee on Hajj (Pansus Haji) of the House of Representatives (DPR RI).
“Then we took steps to secure the evidence, so the money has been seized,” said Acting Director of Investigations at the KPK, Achmad Taufik Husein, during a press conference at the KPK building in South Jakarta on Monday (13/4/2026).
As is known, the Pansus Haji was formed around July 2024 to evaluate the implementation of the Hajj that year. The money was collected from fees for filling Hajj quotas from several travel agencies. It was requested by Yaqut’s special staff, Ishfah Abidal Aziz, or Gus Alex.
Taufik explained that the money was then to be given to the Pansus Haji through an individual with the initials ZA. However, Taufik did not explain who ZA is.
“Regarding the USD 1 million that was returned. The facts we found are that there is indeed a witness named ZA who acted as an intermediary for handing over the money to Pansus members,” he said.
However, Taufik stated that the dollars had not yet reached the Pansus members as originally intended. According to him, the USD 1 million was still in ZA’s possession.
“Indeed, the suspect, YCQ, did not attend the Pansus. So this is a fact we found that it is still held by Mr ZA,” he said.
Pansus Haji Shocked
Member of the 2024 Pansus Haji, Marwan Dasopang, was surprised by the news of the alleged attempt to influence with USD 1 million by former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, the suspect in the alleged Hajj quota corruption case. Marwan claimed he was unaware of any such matter during the Pansus Haji working process.
“I don’t know. I was one of the active members in the Pansus, and I’m shocked too because I didn’t know about it,” Marwan said at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday (13/3).
The Chairman of Commission VIII of the DPR explained that during the work in the Pansus, along with other members, they focused on gathering data related to the organisation of the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage. According to Marwan, the Pansus team also went directly to Saudi Arabia to collect various information.
“I don’t understand if that’s the case, because we were carrying on, and we were so serious in Mecca, in Saudi, it wasn’t easy to obtain that data. From that data, that’s the conclusion we submitted to the law enforcement authorities (APH), I think,” he said.
Marwan stated that the Pansus Haji has no authority in law enforcement. In its conclusions, the Pansus only recommends that any alleged violations that could enter the legal realm be followed up by law enforcement authorities (APH).
“We didn’t go that far (to law enforcement). Our conclusion, if there are violations related to legal issues, then it’s up to the parties handling it, we mention APH. If we’re asked, I have no authority for that. The conclusion has been stated, that’s it,” he revealed.