KPK Summons 9 Hajj-Umrah Travel Bureaus in Connection with Case Involving Former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has once again summoned nine witnesses from Hajj and Umrah travel bureaus or agencies for examination in Jakarta and East Java on Thursday (9/4). Four witnesses will be examined by the KPK at the East Java Representative Office of the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP). They are Abdul Muis, Operational Manager of PT Amsa Nur Indah Mandiri; Harry Sumarno, Financial Director of PT Bumi Nata Wisata Tours And Travel; Harridhi Mukminan Azmi, Visa Manager of PT Faroq Sulaiman Al Fatah; and Abdul Kadir Usrie, Director of PT Tiga Cahaya Utama. Meanwhile, the other five witnesses, who will be examined at the KPK’s Jakarta office, are Nurvitryany, Hajj & Umrah Manager of PT Arfina Margi Wisata; Khairil, Staff of the Hajj Division at PT Arofah Satya Prakasa; Samsul Arif, Hajj Operational Staff at PT Arston Pesona Indonesia Tour; Kenziana, Executive of PT Baitulloh Kota Intan Wisata; and Amin Ahmad Balbaid, Director of PT Balubaid Ikhwan. This week, the KPK has conducted marathon examinations of witnesses from Hajj and Umrah travel agencies. This follows shortly after the KPK announced two new suspects: Ismail Adham, Operational Director of PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour), and Asrul Azis Taba, Commissioner of PT Raudah Eksati Utama and General Chairman of the Kesthuri Association. The two have not yet been detained. Ismail and Asrul follow former Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs for the 2019-2024 period, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, and his Special Staff member Ishfah Abidal Aziz alias Gus Alex, who were processed earlier. Yaqut and Ishfah have already been detained at the State Detention House (Rutan). The KPK has identified more than 300 Hajj and Umrah travel agencies involved in the additional Hajj quota. According to the KPK, several travel bureaus are hesitant to provide statements regarding the practice of buying and selling additional Hajj quotas. In handling this case, the KPK is using 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 relate to losses to state finances. Based on calculations by the audit team of the Financial Audit Board (BPK) of Indonesia, the alleged corruption case involving the 2023-2024 Hajj quota is estimated to have caused state financial losses of Rp622 billion.