Noel's Account of Meeting Yaqut at KPK Detention Centre After House Arrest Controversy
Defendant in the alleged extortion and gratification case, as well as former Deputy Minister of Manpower of Indonesia, Immanuel Ebenezer alias Noel Ebenezer, revealed the story of his reunion with Yaqut Cholil Qoumas at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Detention Centre (Rutan) after the transfer of the former Minister of Religious Affairs from house arrest.
Noel said that the two were making big plans for the KPK because they shared a background as activists.
“We met, had a good chat. And we’re both activists, right? We have big plans for the KPK later. And we’re planning something unexpected for the KPK’s plans,” Noel said at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court, on Monday (30/3).
Noel admitted that together with Yaqut, they laughed at the KPK’s regulations regarding the transfer of detention status, which he considered utterly illogical.
“Just chatting normally. I’m like, we’re both activists, right, so we just laughed for fun about what the KPK did,” he said.
“People are already like this, what, cowboy door, coming in and out so easily. Coming in embarrasses the KPK, going out embarrasses the KPK. The KPK should be ashamed of what it’s doing,” he continued.
Noel also delivered sharp criticism to the KPK and questioned the morals of the anti-corruption agency.
“Well, the problem is, they don’t have any shame anymore, how. Like that. They have no shame, no morals, their moral standards are devilish. Liars, deceivers, sly, wild. Like that. Yeah? Okay, thank you. Greetings to the KPK leadership, two thumbs up,” Noel said while showing both thumbs.
Previously, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) transferred the detention status of former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas to house arrest.
Yaqut was named as one of the suspects in the alleged corruption case related to Indonesia’s 2023-2024 hajj quota by the KPK on 9 January 2026.
On 12 March 2026, the KPK detained Yaqut at the KPK’s Gedung Merah Putih Branch State Detention Centre after his pre-trial was rejected on 11 March 2026.
Yaqut’s release from the KPK detention centre to become a house detainee was initially exposed by the wife of the corruption extortion suspect, former Deputy Minister of Manpower Immanuel Ebenezer Gerungan alias Noel, Silvia Rinita Harefa.
Silvia conveyed this to journalists after visiting her husband who was in KPK custody.
Silvia told the journalists waiting for her that there was information circulating among the detainees about Yaqut Cholil not being seen at the state detention centre or rutan.
“Just now, I didn’t see Gus Yaqut. The info is, apparently he left on Thursday (19/3) night,” said Silvia on Saturday (21/3) afternoon.
The KPK then responded regarding the matter. The KPK transferred Yaqut’s detention to house arrest. The change in status for the former religious affairs minister was carried out since Thursday.
“True, the investigators carried out a change in the type of detention for suspect YCQ, from detention at the KPK Rutan to house arrest, since Thursday (18/3) night,” said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo.
Budi revealed that this detention status change was based on a request from the suspect’s family on 17 March.
“Following that request, it was then reviewed and granted with considerations in accordance with Article 108 paragraphs (1) and (11) of Law Number 20 of 2025 on the Criminal Procedure Code,” he said.
Budi assured that the status change was in accordance with procedures and procedures.
“We assure that the detention transfer process for this temporary period is in accordance with the provisions and procedures for investigation and detention of a suspect,” he said.
Afterwards, Noel through his lawyer also applied for a change in detention status.
Noel’s lawyer, Aziz Yanuar, explained that the reason his client wanted to apply for a change in the type of detention to house arrest was to see the consistency of law enforcement from the law enforcement apparatus.
Aziz wanted to know whether there was justice in the process of following up on the KPK’s decision that once transferred the detention of the suspect in the alleged hajj quota corruption case as well as former Minister of Religious Affairs of Indonesia Yaqut Cholil Qoumas from Rutan detention to house arrest.
Finally, the KPK re-evaluated the status and on 23 March 2026 announced the process of transferring Yaqut’s detention back to rutan. A day later, on 24 March 2026, Yaqut was officially re-detained at the KPK Rutan.