Legal Counsel States Yaqut Not Questioned Regarding Hajj Quota Fund Flows
The legal counsel for former Minister of Religious Affairs, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, Melissa Anggraini, stated that there were no questions regarding the flow of funds being investigated by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) during today’s examination. Melissa also noted that there was no new material presented during this session, as the questioning remained focused on the policies regarding the distribution of Hajj quotas.
“There were almost no new questions, and up until the examination today, there was no confirmation at all regarding fund flows involving him,” she told reporters following the examination at the KPK Building, Jakarta, on Tuesday (2/6). She emphasised that there was no evidence of communication or orders issued by her client to obtain fund flows as alleged by the KPK.
During the examination, Melissa mentioned that Yaqut informed investigators that the policy to increase the Hajj quota was the result of studies conducted by the Directorate General of Hajj and Umrah Organising (PHU), as part of their official duties to formulate regulations for Hajj implementation.
Furthermore, Melissa stated that Yaqut only became aware of the alleged requests for funds, purportedly made by the Special Committee (Pansus), after returning from Europe. She explained that Yaqut had expressed anger and issued an ultimatum during a meeting with the Directorate General of PHU and the Hajj Special Committee, demanding that anyone who had received money return it immediately.
“He said, ‘Anyone who has received money flows, please report it during that meeting. Please put it on the table, please report it. If you are ashamed, tell me directly’,” Melissa recounted.
Consequently, the legal team questioned why the KPK has not yet prosecuted parties within the Directorate General of PHU who have allegedly proven to have received funds from the Hajj quota. “This is a question for us as well. The KPK has stated that there are parties who received funds, and those parties have also admitted to receiving them, yet no legal process has been taken against them to this day. We question whether there is a disparity in law enforcement,” she added.
Previously, the KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution, Asep Guntur Rahayu, stated that the agency will only proceed with the indictment regarding the alleged corruption of additional Hajj quotas, naming Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (Minister of Religious Affairs for the 2019-2024 period) as a suspect, after this year’s Hajj pilgrimage season concludes. Asep explained that this delay is due to the fact that many witnesses in the case are currently serving as officials assisting Indonesian pilgrims in the Holy Land.
The KPK has identified a total of four suspects in the 2023-2024 Hajj quota corruption case: Yaqut Cholil Qoumas; his Special Staff, Ishfah Abidal Aziz (alias Gus Alex); the Operational Director of PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour), Ismail Adham; and the Chairman of the Kesthuri Association and Commissioner of PT Raudah Eksati Utama, Asrul Azis Taba. Currently, only Yaqut and Ishfah have been detained by the KPK for investigation. Asep noted that the other two suspects are expected to be detained within this week or next week.