KPK to Announce Progress in Hajj Quota Case on Monday, 30 March: New Suspect?

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) will provide an update on the handling of the alleged corruption case regarding the 2023-2024 Hajj quota on Monday, 30 March 2026.

“I wish to convey that, Alhamdulillah, thanks to the support from the public in handling this Hajj quota case, we have today achieved very positive progress,” stated KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu at the agency’s office in Jakarta on Thursday (26/3).

“Today, we aim to follow up because some time ago it was mentioned that there would be progress in the coming days—on Tuesday, if I recall—but now it’s Thursday, and we couldn’t announce it yet. We will provide the update on Monday,” he continued.

Asep did not provide clear details on whether the progress involves the designation of a new suspect. He asked the public to wait until next Monday.

“Of course, the public is currently in the post-Eid al-Fitr atmosphere with people returning from holidays and on their way back to their respective places. So, we will announce it on Monday. Hopefully, by Monday, everyone will have resumed their activities,” Asep explained.

This two-star police general claimed that the controversy over the transfer of detention for former Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, which drew sharp criticism, has significantly contributed to the investigation’s progress.

“It was mentioned by colleagues that there is disappointment from the public. In fact, that is a form of support for us. We are very grateful to the Indonesian people. That means, with the information provided to us and such support, we can accelerate the process today,” Asep said.

“Yesterday, Mr YCQ [Yaqut Cholil Qoumas] was examined, and today there is very positive development that we will announce on Monday. Without public support, this would not have happened, and the case handling might have taken longer,” he emphasised.

Case Background

Yaqut and his special staff Ishfah Abidal Aziz, alias Gus Alex, have been designated as suspects by the KPK and are in custody.

Both are charged with violating Article 2 paragraph (1) or Article 3 of the Corruption Eradication Law (UU Tipikor) in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) first of the Criminal Code.

In the case construction of the Hajj quota presented by the KPK on Thursday (12/3), the case also involves private parties. One mentioned is Fuad Hasan Masyhur, Director of PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour). It is suspected that evidence was destroyed during the KPK’s search of the Hajj and Umrah travel agency’s office.

Fuad, as the Advisory Board of the Hajj and Umrah Travel Association Friendship Forum (SATHU), is alleged to have lobbied the Ministry of Religious Affairs regarding the acceptance of additional Hajj quotas for 2023-2024 from the Saudi Arabian Government.

For 2023, there was an additional quota of 8,000. Based on the agreement between the DPR and the Ministry of Religious Affairs, this quota was allocated 92 percent for regular Hajj pilgrims (7,360 pilgrims) and 8 percent for special Hajj pilgrims (640 pilgrims).

The KPK stated there was an acceleration fee from Special Hajj Organisers (PIHK) for filling the additional special Hajj quota with T0 (newly registered, immediate departure) or TX (acceleration, not in queue order) status, amounting to US$5,000 or Rp84.4 million per pilgrim.

One method involved converting mujamalah visa Hajj pilgrims to special Hajj. Based on the KPK team’s examination, Yaqut, Ishfah, and several other Ministry of Religious Affairs officials are suspected of receiving such fees.

For 2024, Indonesia received an additional Hajj quota of 20,000 from the Saudi Arabian Government to reduce the waiting list for Hajj pilgrims, which had reached 47 years. This was obtained during a meeting between the Indonesian and Saudi Arabian governments in October 2023.

In a meeting with the DPR in early November 2023, Yaqut stated that the additional 20,000 Hajj quota for Indonesia in 2024 would be allocated 92 percent for regular (18,400) and 8 percent for special (1,600).

Over time, Ishfah, on Yaqut’s orders, conveyed that the additional Hajj quota would be divided equally 50 percent for regular and 50 percent for special.

On Yaqut’s orders, Ishfah is also said to have provided technical guidance on the scheme or method of distributing the additional Hajj quota to appear not to violate Law No. 8 of 2019 on Hajj and Umrah Administration, which stipulates that the special Hajj quota is set at 8 percent of Indonesia’s total Hajj quota, with the majority allocated to regular.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs then held meetings with several PIHK association officials under the SATHU Forum.

For the 2024 additional Hajj quota, the KPK suspects Ishfah directed staff in the Directorate of Umrah and Special Hajj Development and the Deputy Head of Licensing, Accreditation, and Special Hajj Organiser Development to collect acceleration fees and appoint someone to coordinate the fee money from associations and PIHK.

The fee value was agreed at US$2,000 or approximately Rp33.8 million per pilgrim.

The KPK also revealed that Ishfah allegedly ordered M. Agus Syafi’, Deputy Head of Licensing, Accreditation, and Special Hajj Organiser Development at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, to request funds from PIHK, which were ultimately charged to special Hajj candidate pilgrims at a minimum of US$2,500 (Rp42.2 million) per pilgrim as a fee, commitment fee, or other costs to obtain the additional special Hajj quota, i.e., T0 or TX quota.

The provision and collection of such funds occurred from February to June 2024.

The practice of requesting fees, commitment fees, or other costs from PIHK, charged to special Hajj candidate pilgrims within the special Hajj package price, was also carried out in the 2023 Hajj organisation.

In filling the additional special Hajj quota for 2023, the money f