KPK Urges Public to Monitor Trial of Former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has asked the public to participate in monitoring the inaugural trial of former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and his co-defendants, scheduled for tomorrow. KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo stated that the trial is open to the public and encouraged citizens to follow the proceedings closely, as the case concerns the welfare of many people, particularly prospective Hajj pilgrims.
The trial will be held at the Central Jakarta District Court, with the agenda being the reading of the indictments. The panel of judges will be led by Ni Kadek Susantiani, accompanied by members Adek Nurhadi and Sigit Herman Binaji.
The KPK initiated its investigation into the alleged corruption of the 2023-2024 Indonesian Hajj quota on 9 August 2025. Yaqut and his former special staff member, Ishfah Abidal Aziz, also known as Gus Alex, were named suspects on 9 January 2026. An audit by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) received by the KPK on 24 February 2026 indicated that the case caused potential state losses amounting to IDR 622 billion. Yaqut was initially detained at the KPK detention centre on 12 March 2026, while Ishfah was detained five days later. Yaqut’s detention status was briefly changed to house arrest on 19 March 2026 at his family’s request, but he was returned to the KPK detention centre on 24 March 2026.
In further developments, the KPK named two additional suspects on 30 March 2026: Maktour Operations Director Ismail Adham and former Chairman of the Hajj and Umrah Tour Travel Association of the Republic of Indonesia, Asrul Azis Taba. Both were detained on 8 June 2026. On 24 June 2026, the KPK suspended Yaqut’s detention and transferred him to the National Police Hospital due to digestive health issues, before re-detaining him on 9 July 2026. The KPK handed over the case files for Yaqut and the three other suspects to the public prosecutor on 14 July 2026, and the indictment was subsequently submitted to the Central Jakarta District Court on 31 July 2026.