KPK States Transfer of Yaqut Cholil's Detention to House Arrest is an Investigation Strategy

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has revealed the reason behind the transfer of detention for former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas to house arrest. KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo explained that the transfer of Yaqut to house arrest was not due to illness. “It’s not because of a health condition,” he told the media on Sunday, 22 March 2026, in Jakarta. On the other hand, the KPK also disclosed that the decision to designate the suspect in the alleged Hajj quota corruption case, who is also the former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, as a house detainee is part of the investigation strategy. “Every investigation process naturally has different conditions and case handling strategies, including the detention of a suspect,” Budi added. Budi also revealed that the KPK’s steps regarding Yaqut Cholil could differ from those for other suspects, such as former Papua Governor Lukas Enembe. Lukas Enembe, before his death and while still a KPK detainee, was once granted house arrest due to illness. Meanwhile, Yaqut Cholil became a house detainee not because of illness. Previously, on 21 March 2026, the wife of the defendant in the alleged corruption case involving extortion, 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 about Yaqut not being seen in the state detention centre or rutan. “Earlier, Gus Yaqut wasn’t seen. The info is that he left on Thursday night (19/3),” said Silvia on Saturday afternoon (21/3). She continued that she received information that Yaqut was also not seen during the Eid al-Fitr prayers on 21 March 2026. “People inside said he wasn’t there. He wasn’t there,” she said. When further questioned whether only Ebenezer knew this information, she stated that all detainees knew. “Everyone knows about it. They’re just wondering. They said there was an examination, but it’s unlikely to have an examination on the eve of Takbiran night. Even up to today (Saturday, 21 March) there hasn’t been any,” she said. Therefore, she suggested that journalists verify the information she received.