KPK summons Yaqut after pretrial in hajj quota corruption case rejected
Jakarta — The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has summoned former Religion Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas following the rejection of a pretrial motion in a corruption case concerning alleged misallocation of additional hajj quotas for the 2023-2024 pilgrimage season.
“We have already summoned the person concerned in the near future. They will be called first,” said KPK Deputy for Prosecution and Enforcement Asep Guntur Rahayu at the South Jakarta District Court on Wednesday.
He stated the questioning relates to Yaqut’s designation as a suspect in the hajj quota corruption case. However, Asep could not provide specific details about the timing of Yaqut’s summons, only stating that the summons would be issued this week.
“Yes, of course he will be questioned as a suspect, because his current status is that of a suspect. He is being summoned this week,” Asep said.
Regarding the possibility of Yaqut’s detention, Asep stated that the KPK would assess future developments in the case. He noted that the detention of a suspect involves numerous considerations.
“That depends on how things develop. It is not automatic; we must consider many factors. We shall see how it progresses,” Asep said.
The presiding judge, Sulistyo Muhamad Dwi Putro, ruled: “I hereby reject the pretrial motion of the petitioner in its entirety.”
The judge stated that the KPK’s designation of Yaqut as a suspect followed proper legal procedures and applicable regulations. The judge also determined that the grounds for Yaqut’s pretrial motion concerned the substance of the case itself.
“I impose court costs on the petitioner in the amount of zero,” the judge stated.
Earlier, the KPK reported that the state suffered losses of 622 billion rupiah in the alleged corruption case involving the misallocation of additional hajj quotas for the 2023-2024 pilgrimage season, with Yaqut as the suspect.
In its response, the KPK stated that Yaqut’s designation as a suspect in the hajj quota case followed proper legal procedures, having met the minimum requirement of two pieces of valid evidence. More than 40 individuals have been questioned, as documented in the Statement of Request for Information against Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.
The KPK’s legal team affirmed that Yaqut’s designation as a suspect followed a comprehensive process of data collection, information gathering, statements, and leads, thereby satisfying the evidentiary sufficiency requirement of two pieces of evidence.