KPK to Summon Two New Suspects in Hajj Quota Case

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) will summon two new suspects in connection with the alleged corruption case regarding the 2023-2024 Hajj quota. The summons are intended to accelerate the case compilation so that it can subsequently be handed over to the court. The two new suspects in question are Ismail Adham, the Operations Director of PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour), and Asrul Azis Taba, the Commissioner of PT Raudah Eksati Utama and Chairman of the Asosiasi Kesthuri. At the beginning of this month, the KPK submitted a request to the Directorate General of Immigration to prevent Ismail Adham and Asrul Azis Taba from travelling abroad for six months. This coercive measure was taken by the KPK to facilitate the examination process. “Yes, the investigators will definitely summon them because they are already suspects,” said Acting Director of Investigation at the KPK, Achmad Taufik Husein, when confirmed via written message on Saturday (25/4). Taufik stated that the investigators will schedule the examination dates for both suspects. This includes the timing for examining witnesses. “Indeed, we will accelerate the handover,” he said. In the ongoing investigation process, the KPK has intensively examined witnesses from Hajj and Umrah travel bureaus or Special Hajj Organisers (PIHK). One of the witnesses whose statement has been taken is Khalid Zeed Abdullah Basalamah, the owner of PT Zahra Oto Mandiri (Uhud Tour). The KPK confirmed matters regarding the return of funds and discussions on the Hajj quota with Khalid. During the examination on Thursday (23/4), Khalid stated that he had returned funds related to the Hajj quota amounting to Rp8.4 billion. To date, the KPK has named four suspects in this case, which is alleged to have caused state financial losses of Rp622 billion. The other two suspects are former Minister of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, and his special staff, Ishfah Abidal Aziz alias Gus Alex. Yaqut and Ishfah have been detained by the KPK. In handling the Hajj quota case, the KPK is applying Article 2 paragraph (1) and or Article 3 of the Law on the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption (UU Tipikor) in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) first of the Criminal Code or as referred to in Article 603 or Article 604 of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 20 letter (c) of the Criminal Code Law.