KPK to Summon Aide of Former Religion Minister Next Week
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) will summon special aide (stafus) to former Religion Minister (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, Ishfah Abidal Aziz (IAA), also known as Gus Alex, for questioning as a suspect in a corruption case involving the additional hajj quota next week.
“We have already summoned the individual in question for next week. So please stand by,” said Asep Guntur Rahayu, Deputy for Enforcement and Execution at the KPK, during a press conference at its Jakarta office on Thursday (12 March).
Gus Alex held several important roles in this case.
During the allocation of the special additional hajj quota in 2023, the government allegedly demanded fees of approximately USD 4,000-5,000 (Rp67.5 million-Rp84.4 million) through Gus Alex and Yaqut from travel agents or pilgrim organisers (PIHK). These fees were subsequently passed on to the pilgrims themselves.
During the process, when information emerged that Parliament would establish a Special Committee (Pansus) on Hajj around July 2024, Gus Alex instructed the relevant subdivision head to return all collected fees to the associations or PIHK operators.
Subsequently, in November 2023, there was communication between the Technical Staff at Indonesia’s Hajj Affairs Office in Jeddah and Gus Alex regarding Indonesia’s 2024 hajj quota, which was entered into the e-hajj application as 221,000 rather than the expected 241,000.
Upon receiving this information, Gus Alex indicated that the additional quota of 20,000 would be divided 50:50, which he did based on instructions from Yaqut Cholil Qoumas as Religion Minister.
In this case, both Yaqut and Gus Alex have been designated as suspects by the KPK. Yaqut has been detained by the KPK for the next 20 days.
During the ongoing investigation, the KPK has conducted searches at numerous locations, including Yaqut’s residence in Condet, East Jakarta; the offices of hajj and umrah travel agencies in Jakarta; the homes of civil servants at the Religion Ministry in Depok; and the offices of the Directorate General for Hajj and Umrah (PHU) at the Religion Ministry.
Substantial evidence suspected to be related to the case has been seized, including documents, electronic evidence, vehicles, and property.
According to calculations by the Financial Audit Board (BPK), the state is reported to have suffered losses of approximately Rp622.090.207.166,41 (Rp622 billion) from the alleged corruption case involving the additional hajj quota for the 2023 and 2024 pilgrimages.