MAKI Suspects Interference Behind the Change of Detention for Former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut

Coordinator of the Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society (MAKI), Boyamin Saiman, suspects that certain parties intervened with the KPK, allowing former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas to be placed under house arrest. Boyamin claims to know the identity of the individual behind the intervention and has reported it to the KPK Supervisory Board. However, he refuses to disclose who that person is. “Actually, there is, but it’s still just a suspicion. I hope that the KPK Supervisory Board will summon me later, and I will explain the sequence, the chain of events, and the suspected external intervention,” Boyamin said in Jakarta on Wednesday (25/3/2026). “But I’m sorry, I can’t reveal it, because even in the past at the MK Honour Court, the supporters of the intervention weren’t named. Let the KPK Supervisory Board investigate based on what I know,” he added. Boyamin stated that the intervening party is not from a mass organisation. According to him, that party has the authority to carry out the intervention. “Not an ormas. It’s someone suspected of being capable of intervening,” he said. Meanwhile, the KPK switched Yaqut’s detention from the detention centre to house arrest on Thursday (19/3). The switch was granted upon a request from his family on 17 March 2026. The request was approved based on considerations under Article 108 paragraphs (1) and (11) of Law No. 20 of 2025 on the Criminal Procedure Code. On Monday (23/3), the KPK finally returned Yaqut’s status to detention at the centre. Before being detained, Yaqut first underwent a health examination at the Kramat Jati Police Hospital. Gus Yaqut is a suspect in the hajj quota case. He was named a suspect along with his former special staff, Ishfah Abidal Aziz alias Gus Alex. This hajj quota arrangement case occurred in 2023 and 2024. The hajj quota is suspected to have been arranged in a certain way in exchange for fees. The practice of demanding fee payments was carried out to Special Hajj Service Providers (PIHK), or hajj travel agencies. The costs were then passed on by the PIHK to special hajj pilgrims in the package prices. Gus Yaqut and Gus Alex are suspected of playing a major role in arranging the hajj quota. The KPK states that a number of fees flowed to both of them. However, the KPK has not detailed the exact amount. Gus Yaqut and Gus Alex are suspected of violating the Corruption Law regarding state losses. According to the KPK, the state losses in this case amount to Rp622 billion.