KPK states that Yaqut's house arrest is part of the investigation strategy
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has stated that the decision to place the suspect in the alleged Hajj quota corruption case, who is also the former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, under house arrest is part of the investigation strategy.
“Every investigation process naturally has different conditions and case handling strategies, including the detention of a suspect,” said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to journalists in Jakarta on Sunday.
Therefore, Budi said that the KPK’s approach to Yaqut Cholil may differ from other suspects in the case, such as former Papua Governor Lukas Enembe.
Lukas Enembe, before his death and while still a KPK detainee, was once released on health grounds. Meanwhile, Yaqut Cholil’s house arrest is not due to illness.
“It’s not because of a health condition. It’s because there was a request from the family, which we then processed,” he said.
Previously, on 21 March 2026, the wife of the defendant in the alleged extortion corruption case, who is also the former Deputy Minister of Manpower Immanuel Ebenezer Gerungan, namely Silvia Rinita Harefa, spoke to journalists after visiting her husband.
Silvia told the journalists waiting for her that there was information circulating among the detainees regarding Yaqut Cholil not being seen in the state detention centre or rutan.
“Just now, I didn’t see Gus Yaqut. The info is that he left on Thursday (19/3) night,” said Silvia on Saturday (21/3) afternoon.
“People inside say he’s not there. He’s not there,” she said.
When further questioned whether only Ebenezer knew about this information, she stated that all detainees knew.
“Everyone knows about it. They’re just wondering. They say there’s an examination, but it’s impossible to have an examination on the eve of Takbiran night. Even until today (Saturday, 21/3), there’s none,” she said.
“You guys try to get more info. That’s all the info,” she said.
On Saturday (21/3) night, the KPK confirmed to Silvia that Yaqut Cholil has been under house arrest since the night of 19 March 2026.
Yaqut Cholil Qoumas was placed under house arrest after his family requested it from the KPK on 17 March 2026. The KPK has assured that Yaqut is still being monitored.
It is known that Yaqut Cholil was named as one of the suspects in the alleged corruption case related to Indonesia’s Hajj quota for 2023-2024 by the KPK on 9 January 2026.
On 12 March 2026, the KPK detained Yaqut at the KPK’s Red White Building Branch State Detention Centre after his pre-trial was rejected on 11 March 2026. The case is said by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) of Indonesia to have caused state losses of up to Rp622 billion.