KPK Summons Maktour CEO and Three Other Witnesses in Hajj Quota Case
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) summoned a total of four witnesses related to the investigation of alleged corruption involving additional Hajj quotas for the 2023-2024 period at the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs on Monday (15/06).
In addition to the President Director of PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour), Fuad Hasan Masyhur, the three other witnesses summoned are private individuals: Ichwan Muzani Abrianto, Manager of the Pasar Baru Mansion Apartment building; King Yuwono, Director of PT Trikarya Idea Sakti; and Firda Alhamdi, a finance staff member at PT Raudah Eksati Utama.
“The examination was conducted at the KPK Merah Putih Building,” stated KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasito in a written statement on Monday (15/06).
For Fuad, this summons represents a rescheduling, as he was unable to attend a previous examination on Tuesday, 2 June, due to his pilgrimage for the Hajj.
The examination aims to complete the case files for four suspects: the former Minister of Religious Affairs for the 2019-2024 period, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas; his Special Staff, Ishfah Abidal Aziz (also known as Gus Alex); the Operational Director of Maktour, Ismail Adham; and the Chairman of the Kesthuri Association, who is also a Commissioner of PT Raudah Eksati Utama, Asrul Azis Taba, who was recently detained on 8 June.
The KPK stated that it will submit the case files of the suspects to the Corruption Crime Court (Tipikor) concurrently.
During the ongoing investigation, the KPK has identified over 300 travel agencies involved in the additional Hajj quota distribution. Some travel agencies have reportedly been hesitant to provide information regarding the alleged practice of buying and selling additional Hajj quotas.
The KPK is applying Article 2 paragraph (1) and/or Article 3 of the Law on the Eradication of Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) 1st of the Criminal Code (KUHP), relating to state financial losses.
Based on calculations by the audit team of the Audit Board of Indonesia (BPK RI), the alleged corruption case regarding the 2023-2024 additional Hajj quota is estimated to have caused state losses amounting to Rp622 billion.