Legal developments yesterday: KPK detains Yaqut, Ammar Zoni faces 9-year prison sentence
Jakarta – Several significant legal developments dominated headlines yesterday, with various cases attracting close attention. Former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, a suspect in the hajj quota case, was formally detained by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), whilst celebrity Muhammad Ammar Akbar (Ammar Zoni) faces a prosecution demand for 9 years’ imprisonment related to alleged drug distribution.
Yaqut Cholil Qoumas formally detained by KPK
Former Religious Affairs Minister and hajj quota case suspect Yaqut Cholil Qoumas was formally detained by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
Whilst being escorted to a detention vehicle, Yaqut denied receiving any money in connection with the hajj quota case, stating that he had been solely concerned with ensuring the safety of pilgrims.
“I have never received a single rupiah from the case alleged against me, and I undertook all these policies solely for the safety of pilgrims. That is what I can say,” Yaqut stated at KPK’s Red and White Building in Jakarta on Thursday.
Head of Traffic Police ensures state presence guarantees migrant safety
Agus Suryonugroho, Head of the Traffic Police Corps (Kakorlantas) Polri, confirmed that the state is present to ensure the safety of people returning home during the 2026 Ketupat Operation.
He made this statement while attending a meeting with transport experts in preparation for Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah at the Jasa Raharja office in Jakarta on Wednesday (11 March).
“The Ketupat Operation is a humanitarian operation. The state is present not only to regulate traffic or manage homecoming and return flows, but also to preserve the social and spiritual momentum of the community throughout the Holy Month of Ramadan through to Eid al-Fitr,” he said, as confirmed on Thursday.
National Police Criminal Investigation Unit arrests Boy, network member wanted in connection with Koko Erwin
The Narcotics Crime Directorate (Dittipidnarkoba) of the National Police Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim Polri) has arrested A. Hamid, alias Boy, a suspected drug trafficker in the Koko Erwin network who was on the wanted list (DPO).
“The wanted person Boy has been arrested,” said Police Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso, Director of Narcotics Crime (Dirnarkoba) of Bareskrim Polri, in Jakarta on Thursday.
He stated that Boy was arrested in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, on Tuesday (10 March) and was brought to the Bareskrim Polri building in Jakarta that evening.
Banser visits KPK during Yaqut’s questioning as suspect
Barisan Ansor Serbaguna (Banser) visited the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) whilst former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas was being questioned as a suspect in the hajj quota case.
“Today we came to accompany our brother and our adviser,” said an orator at the forecourt of KPK’s Red and White Building in Jakarta on Tuesday, upon arrival at approximately 16:39 Western Indonesian Time.
They further stated that they were requesting the KPK to act fairly. If not, they said, Banser would visit the KPK with even larger numbers of supporters.
Ammar Zoni faces 9-year prison sentence in drug distribution case
Celebrity Muhammad Ammar Akbar, alias Ammar Zoni, faces a prosecution demand for 9 years’ imprisonment in connection with alleged drug distribution at the Salemba Detention Centre, during a sentencing hearing at the Central Jakarta District Court on Thursday.
In addition to imprisonment, Ammar also faces a fine of 500 million rupiah, with the provision that if unpaid, it would be replaced (subsidiary) with 140 days’ imprisonment.
“We request that the court panel declare the defendants guilty of committing unlawful narcotics offences, offering for the purpose of selling or acting as intermediaries in the sale of Class I narcotics,” said Yeni Rosalita, public prosecutor from the Central Jakarta State Prosecutor’s Office.