KPK to Detain Two New Hajj Quota Corruption Suspects This Week

JAKARTA – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) will detain two new suspects in the alleged Hajj quota corruption case for the 2023-2024 period this week. The two suspects are former Chairman of the Association of Hajj and Umrah Travel Agencies (Kesthuri), Asrul Azis Taba; and Operational Director of PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour), Ismail Adham. “We have confirmed with our investigators that the detentions will happen soon. It may be this week or next, God willing,” said KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu at the Merah Putih Building in Jakarta on Monday (1/6/2026). “We are gathering the evidence first. Once complete, we will proceed with forced detention,” he added. The KPK has already named four suspects in the Hajj quota corruption case: former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas; former special staff to Yaqut, Ishfah Abidal Aziz, alias Gus Alex; former Chairman of Kesthuri Asrul Azis Taba; and Maktour’s Operational Director Ismail Adham. The KPK suspects that there was an irregular arrangement of additional Hajj quota allocations that violated regulations, along with payments made to public officials. Ismail Adham is suspected of paying $30,000 (US dollars) to former special staff Gus Alex regarding the special quota arrangement. Meanwhile, Asrul Azis Taba is suspected of paying $406,000 to Gus Alex for the special quota arrangement. As a result, eight Special Hajj Service Providers (PIHK) affiliated with ASR also gained unlawful profits of Rp 40.8 billion in 2024. The KPK stated that Gus Alex and Hilman acted as representatives of Yaqut in receiving the funds.