PD Urges KPK to Explain Yaqut's House Arrest: To Prevent Speculation
The change in detention status of former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (YCQ) to house arrest has sparked controversy. Democratic Party (PD) member of the House of Representatives Commission III, Benny K. Harman, has demanded that the KPK provide a clear explanation for this decision.
“The KPK must provide an open explanation to the public regarding the reasonable grounds for downgrading the detention status of former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut to house arrest,” Benny told reporters on Friday (27/3/2026).
“Without an open explanation, speculation will arise in society, which is certainly not conducive to the KPK’s and the President’s law enforcement efforts in eradicating corruption. Without an open explanation, speculation will develop that this was done with the blessing of those in power,” he added.
Benny described this as the first time in KPK history. He urged the KPK to apply the same standards to all corruption suspects, namely detention by the KPK.
“There is no discrimination in the application of legal rules. Everyone is equal before the law. Other detainees will then demand the same thing,” he said.
“The state has not yet changed the nature of corruption as an extraordinary crime, and the KPK is the extraordinary means needed to eradicate corruption,” he added.
Furthermore, Benny hopes that President Prabowo Subianto continues to support the KPK and protect the institution from extra efforts by certain groups. According to him, those parties do not want the KPK to grow into a strong institution.
“Which we currently very much need to eradicate corruption down to its roots,” he said.
Riau Governor Requests House Arrest
Suspended Riau Governor Abdul Wahid is undergoing a prosecution trial for alleged extortion of his subordinates at the Riau Public Works Department Unit in the Pekanbaru Corruption Court. During the hearing, Abdul Wahid’s legal counsel requested that his client’s detention be changed to house arrest, similar to that of former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.
The request was made by Abdul Wahid’s legal counsel during the prosecution reading agenda. Three defendants were present: Abdul Wahid, Arief Setiawan, and Dani Nursallam.
First, the legal counsel stated they would challenge the KPK prosecutor’s indictment. Second, they requested that during the trial process, they be separated for various reasons, including the cramped room and the number of legal counsels.
“We request that the examination of the three defendants be conducted separately. This is to allow the panel of judges to focus more on the evidence in the future,” said Abdul Wahid’s legal counsel after the prosecution reading hearing, as reported by detikSumut, on Thursday (26/3).
The legal counsel then raised the third point. It was a request to change Abdul Wahid’s detention from Pekanbaru Detention Centre to house arrest.
The legal counsel also revealed the reasons for the request. One of them was the recent change in detention for Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and health reasons.
“Third, the defendant also wishes to request a change of detention from detention centre to house arrest. This is based on Article 108 paragraphs 5 and 11 of the Criminal Procedure Code and the precedent from one of the suspects, Mr YC, who was changed to house arrest. The reasons are the defendant’s health, Mr Abdul Wahid, and a guarantee letter from Mr Abdul Wahid’s family,” said the legal counsel.