Maktour Director in Tears After Being Detained by KPK Over Hajj Quota Case
The Operational Director of PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour), Ismail Adham, was seen in tears as he was escorted to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) detention vehicle on Monday night (8/6). Ismail, alongside Asrul Azis Taba—the Chairman of the Kesthauri Association and Commissioner of PT Raudah Eksati Utama—has been named a suspect by the KPK in a corruption case involving the 2023-2024 additional Hajj quotas.
Following intensive interrogation, both individuals have been placed in detention for an initial 20-day period at the KPK’s Merah Putih Building detention centre. The Acting Director of Investigations at the KPK, Achmad Taufik Husein, stated during a press conference that the suspects, along with Fuad Hasan Masyhur and other related parties, allegedly met with the former Minister of Religious Affairs, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, and his Special Staff, Ishfah Abidal Aziz (also known as Gus Alex).
Yaqut and Ishfah had previously been detained by the KPK. The investigation suggests the meetings were intended to request additional special Hajj quotas exceeding the 8 per cent limit stipulated by law, resulting in an irregular 50-50 split between regular and special Hajj quotas. Furthermore, Ismail and Asrul are alleged to have conspired with officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs to distribute additional special Hajj quotas to companies affiliated with PT Maktour and the NRA Group/Kesthuri Association, including quotas under the accelerated departure scheme (T0).
Evidence suggests Ismail provided various sums of money to several officials, including US$30,000 to Ishfah, US$5,000 and SAR16,000 to Hilman Latief (former Director General of Hajj and Umrah Organising), and US$10,000 to Rizky Fisa Abadi. Through these actions, PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour) allegedly obtained illegal gains of approximately Rp27.8 billion in 2024. Meanwhile, Asrul is suspected of providing US$406,000 to Ishfah, which allegedly led to illegal gains of Rp40.8 billion for eight special Hajj organisers affiliated with him. The KPK alleges that the payments received by Ishfah and Hilman Latief were intended to represent the former Minister of Religious Affairs. The suspects face charges under the Anti-Corruption Law and the Indonesian Penal Code.