KPK states suspects in hajj quota case divided into two clusters
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) states that the suspects in the alleged corruption case regarding hajj quotas are divided into two clusters.
“In its course, there are two clusters that we are handling,” said Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK, Asep Guntur Rahayu, at the KPK’s Red and White Building in Jakarta on Monday (30/3).
Asep explained that the first cluster relates to the process of determining additional hajj quotas that do not comply with Article 64 of Law No. 8 of 2019 on the Organisation of Hajj and Umrah Pilgrimage. That article stipulates the distribution of additional hajj quotas as 92 per cent for regular hajj and eight per cent for special hajj.
“There was a directive flow to set the additional hajj quota divided 50 per cent and 50 per cent. So, 50 per cent for regular hajj and 50 per cent for special hajj,” he said.
For the second cluster, he explained that it concerns the alleged flow of funds resulting from the equal 50 per cent division of additional hajj quotas, including to officials in the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
“In fact, we have found, the investigators have found, the flow of funds, or money given by private parties to individuals in the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Of course, in a tiered manner up to the top leadership,” he stated.
Therefore, he said, the second cluster of the hajj quota case focuses on private parties or non-state organisers, such as parties in hajj organising bureaux.
“We are focusing on parties in these hajj organising travel agencies that collected a sum of money and gave it to individuals in the Ministry of Religious Affairs,” he said.
The suspects in the first cluster are state organisers at the time of the alleged corruption case, namely Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas along with Special Staff to the Minister of Religious Affairs Ishfah Abidal Aziz alias Gus Alex.
For the second cluster, the suspects are Operational Director of Maktour Ismail Adham, and General Chairman of the Indonesian Hajj and Umrah Travel Bureau Unity (Kesthuri) Asrul Aziz Taba.
Previously, on 9 August 2025, the KPK began investigating the alleged corruption case related to Indonesia’s hajj quotas for 2023–2024.
The KPK on 9 January 2026 announced former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and Ishfah Abidal Aziz alias Gus Alex as his special staff as suspects in the case.
Meanwhile, Fuad Hasan Masyhur as the owner of the hajj organising bureau Maktour was not named as a suspect, although he was once banned from leaving the country.
On 27 February 2026, the KPK announced that it had received an audit from the Financial Audit Board (BPK) of the Republic of Indonesia regarding state financial losses due to the hajj quota case.
Then on 4 March 2026, the KPK announced that state financial losses due to the case amounted to Rp622 billion.
On 12 March 2026, the KPK detained Yaqut Cholil at the State Detention House Branch of the KPK’s Red and White Building.
Then on 17 March 2026, the KPK detained Gus Alex at the Detention House Branch of the KPK’s Central Anti-Corruption Education Building.
On the same date, Yaqut Cholil’s family requested the KPK to allow the former Minister of Religious Affairs to be under house arrest. The KPK then granted the request, and Yaqut has been under house arrest since 19 March 2026.
On 23 March 2026, the KPK announced it was processing the transfer of Yaqut Cholil’s detention from house arrest back to detention house. On 24 March 2026, Yaqut officially became a detainee at the KPK Detention House.
On 30 March 2026, the KPK announced two new suspects in the case. They are Operational Director of Maktour Ismail Adham, and General Chairman of the Indonesian Hajj and Umrah Travel Bureau Unity (Kesthuri) Asrul Aziz Taba.