KPK Views Discourse on Yaqut's House Arrest as Public Support

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) views the discourse or discussions regarding the suspect in the alleged Hajj quota corruption case, who is also the former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (YCQ), as a form of public support for the anti-corruption agency. “We express our utmost thanks to all colleagues and the Indonesian public who have supported us through their endorsements and comments. Of course, during this Eid, we also seek forgiveness for any disturbances,” said KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu at the KPK’s Red and White Building in Jakarta on Thursday. Asep further stated that all discussions about Yaqut’s house arrest are actually beneficial to the KPK. “From a strategic perspective, this is certainly advantageous for us. It means this is a form of public support for us. That’s how I see it,” he said. According to him, this benefits the KPK because previously, those vocal about the Hajj quota case were parties unsupportive of the anti-corruption agency’s actions. “During the pre-trial, when following the pre-trial, many attendees were YCQ’s supporters. During the detention as well, many present here were YCQ’s supporters,” he said. Therefore, he once again thanked the public for speaking out and reminding the KPK in handling the Hajj quota case. “I am confident there has been a lot of support for us in handling this case. It’s just that it’s a silent majority, not giving comments,” he said. He continued, “In handling cases, we also need public support because in some cases, suspects or defendants rally support through social media and so on.” Previously, on 9 August 2025, the KPK began investigating the alleged corruption case related to Indonesia’s Hajj quota for 2023-2024. On 11 August 2025, the KPK announced initial calculations of state losses in the case exceeding Rp1 trillion, and prevented three individuals from travelling abroad for up to six months. Those prevented were former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, Ishfah Abidal Aziz alias Gus Alex as Yaqut’s special staff, and Fuad Hasan Masyhur as the owner of the Maktour Hajj organising agency. On 9 January 2026, the KPK announced that two of the three prevented individuals became suspects in the alleged Hajj quota corruption case, namely Yaqut and Gus Alex. However, Yaqut filed a pre-trial petition against the suspect determination at the South Jakarta District Court on 10 February 2026, registered under case number 19/Pid.Pra/2026/PN JKT.SEL. On 19 February 2026, the KPK announced the extension of the travel ban only for Yaqut and Gus Alex, while Fuad’s was not extended. On 27 February 2026, the KPK announced it had received an audit from the Financial Audit Board (BPK) of the Republic of Indonesia regarding state financial losses due to the Hajj quota case. Then on 4 March 2026, the KPK announced state financial losses due to the case amounting to Rp622 billion. Subsequently, on 11 March 2026, the Panel of Judges at the South Jakarta District Court rejected Yaqut’s pre-trial petition. On 12 March 2026, the KPK detained Yaqut at the KPK’s Red and White Building State Detention House Branch. Then on 17 March 2026, the KPK detained Gus Alex at the KPK’s Central Anti-Corruption Education Detention House Branch. While walking to the detention vehicle, he stated there was no order or flow of money in the Hajj quota case to Yaqut. On the same date, Yaqut’s family requested the KPK to allow the former Minister of Religious Affairs to be under house arrest. The KPK then granted the request, and Yaqut has been under house arrest since 19 March 2026. On 23 March 2026, the KPK announced it was processing the transfer of Yaqut’s detention from house arrest back to detention house. On 24 March 2026, Yaqut officially became a detainee at the KPK Detention House.