Legal Counsel States KPK Did Not Question Yaqut Regarding Money Flows
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The legal counsel for former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, Melissa Anggraini, stated on Tuesday that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) did not question her client regarding the flow of funds in the alleged Hajj quota corruption case.
“There were almost no new questions, and up to the examination today, there was no confirmation at all regarding any money flows to him,” she said in a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Melissa noted that the interrogation continued to focus on the policies regarding the distribution of Hajj quotas, with no new questions from the KPK directed at the suspect in the quota case.
Furthermore, she stated that during the examination, Yaqut informed KPK investigators that the policy to increase the Hajj quota was the result of a study conducted by the Directorate General of Hajj and Umrah Organistion (Ditjen PHU) of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. According to her, the Ditjen PHU conducted this study in accordance with its primary duties and functions.
She added that Yaqut had expressed anger and issued an ultimatum during a meeting with the Ditjen PHU and the DPR Hajj Special Committee, demanding that anyone who had received money return it immediately.
“He said, ‘Whoever has received money flows, please report it during that meeting. Please put it on the table, please disclose it. If you are ashamed, tell me directly’,” she said, quoting Yaqut.
Consequently, the defence questioned why the KPK has yet to prosecute parties who have reportedly proven to have received funds from the Hajj quota, particularly within the environment of the Ministry’s Ditjen PHU.
“This is a question for us as well, because the KPK has stated that there are parties who received funds. Those parties have also admitted to receiving them, yet to this day, no legal process has been taken against them. We certainly question whether there is a disparity in law enforcement,” she said.
On 9 January 2026, the KPK named former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and his special staff, Ishfah Abidal Aziz, also known as Gus Alex, as suspects. Meanwhile, Fuad Hasan Masyhur, the owner of the Hajj organiser Maktour, was not named a suspect, despite being subject to a travel ban.
The KPK subsequently received the results of an audit from the Audit Board of Indonesia (BPK) on 27 February 2026, which stated that state losses in the case reached Rp622 billion.
On 12 March 2026, the KPK detained Yaqut at the KPK Red and White Building Detention Centre, followed by the detention of Ishfah on 17 March 2006. On 30 March 2026, the KPK named two new suspects: Maktour’s Operational Director, Ismail Adham, and the former General Chairman of the Indonesian Hajj and Umrah Tour Travel Association (Kesthuri), Asrul Aziz Taba.