KPK Summons 5 Executives from Hajj and Umrah Travel Bureaus in Yaqut Case

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has scheduled examinations of five witnesses in the investigation into alleged corruption concerning the 2023-2024 Hajj quota on Monday (6/4). The witnesses are from Hajj and Umrah travel bureaus or agencies. The examinations are taking place at the Merah Putih Building of the KPK in South Jakarta. “Today, the KPK has scheduled the examination of witnesses in the alleged criminal act of corruption related to the Hajj quota for the 2023-2024 Hajj pilgrimage. The examination is being conducted at the Merah Putih Building of the KPK,” stated KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo in a written statement on Monday. The five individuals summoned are: Commissioner of PT Gema Shafa Marwa Tours, Ulfah Izzati; Manager of the Umrah and Hajj Division of PT Abdi Ummat Wisata, Kurniawan Chandra Permata; Operations Manager of PT Adzikra, Ali Farihin; General Manager of PT Aero Globe Indonesia, Ahmad Fauzan; and President Director of PT Afiz Nurul Qolbi (ANUBI), Eko Martino Wafa Afizputro. As of the writing of this news, there has been no confirmation of attendance from these witnesses. The examination is intended to complete the case file for the four suspects already designated by the KPK. They are former Minister of Religious Affairs of Indonesia for the 2019-2024 period, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas; Yaqut’s Special Staff, Ishfah Abidal Aziz alias Gus Alex; Operational Director of PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour), Ismail Adham; and Commissioner of PT Raudah Eksati Utama as well as General Chairman of the Kesthuri Association, Asrul Azis Taba. Yaqut and Ishfah have been detained in a State Detention House (Rutan), while Ismail and Asrul have not yet been detained. The KPK has identified more than 300 travel bureaus involved in managing additional Hajj quotas. Several travel bureaus are hesitant to provide statements regarding these quota trading practices. In handling this case, the KPK is applying Article 2 paragraph (1) and or Article 3 of the Corruption Eradication Law (UU Tipikor) in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) first of the Criminal Code or as referred to in Article 603 or Article 604 of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 20 letter (c) of the Criminal Code Law. These articles pertain to losses to state finances. Based on calculations by the audit team of the Financial Audit Board (BPK) of Indonesia, the alleged corruption in the 2023-2024 Hajj quota is estimated to have caused state financial losses of Rp622 billion.