Mentioning Yaqut's House Arrest, Immanuel Ebenezer: Even Getting Treatment Is Difficult for Me
Former Deputy Minister of Manpower Immanuel Ebenezer Gerungan alluded to the transfer of detention status for former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Kholil Qoumas to house arrest during Eid al-Fitr.
The statement was made by Immanuel while attending a trial at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court (Tipikor).
In response to journalists’ questions, Immanuel assessed that the house arrest policy should not be easily accessible to all detainees. He admitted that even obtaining permission for medical treatment requires a lengthy process.
“Even arranging for medical treatment is difficult, let alone arranging for house arrest. I once applied for treatment and it was extremely difficult, taking months to get,” said Immanuel ahead of the trial in the witness examination agenda on Monday (30/3).
He then alluded to the conditions inside the detention centre, which he believes show disparities in treatment. Immanuel claimed to have seen firsthand an elderly detainee who did not receive similar treatment.
“In the detention centre, there is a 75-year-old grandfather, sorry, who defecates and urinates in his pants, but he doesn’t get house arrest. He still goes through the trial process and is detained,” he said.
Previously, the case ensnaring Yaqut Cholil Qoumas had drawn public attention after the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named him a suspect in the alleged corruption of the additional Hajj quota for 2023-2024.
Yaqut was initially detained in the KPK detention centre on Thursday (12/3). However, just a week later, on 19 March 2026, his detention status was changed to house arrest.
The KPK at the time stated that the decision was taken considering Yaqut’s health condition, including a history of stomach disease and asthma, as well as a family request to spend Eid at home.
Nevertheless, the policy drew widespread criticism from the public. Several parties assessed that there was special treatment for the former state official, especially when compared to other detainees who continued to serve their detention in the centre.
The ensuing polemic ultimately prompted the KPK to evaluate the policy. On 24 March 2026, Yaqut’s house arrest status was revoked, and he was returned to detention.
In the case currently being tried, Immanuel is a defendant in an alleged corruption case related to the management of Occupational Safety and Health (K3) certification at the Ministry of Manpower.
The public prosecutor charges that Immanuel was involved in extortion practices against K3 certification applicants with a total value of Rp6.52 billion. In addition, he is also alleged to have received gratification amounting to Rp3.36 billion and one luxury motorcycle during his tenure as Deputy Minister of Manpower for the 2024–2025 period.
This case stemmed from a raid operation conducted by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in 2025, which subsequently named Immanuel along with 10 other defendants as suspects.
For his actions, Immanuel is charged under Article 12 letter e and Article 12 B of the Corruption Eradication Law.