Pre-trial Motion by Former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas Rejected, Judge Confirms Two Pieces of Evidence as Valid

A single judge at Jakarta South District Court, Judge Sulistyo Muhamad Dwi Putro, has rejected a pre-trial motion filed by former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas against the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) regarding his designation as a suspect in a hajj quota corruption case.

The judge ruled that Yaqut’s designation as a suspect complies with legal provisions, specifically Article 1, paragraph 31 of Law Number 20 Year 2025. According to the judge, the KPK established Yaqut’s suspect status based on two pieces of evidence: evidence T-4 through T-117, supported by evidence T-135 and T-136.

“The applicant’s designation as a suspect has met the legal requirements,” stated Judge Sulistyo Muhamad Dwi Putro at Jakarta South District Court on Wednesday (11 March).

The judge explained that the designation of a suspect must be preceded by a minimum of two valid pieces of evidence. The pre-trial judge therefore assessed the formal aspects—whether the two pieces of evidence were valid. The judge dismissed evidence presented by Yaqut in the form of media articles containing information, deeming them irrelevant to the pre-trial proceedings.

With the rejection of Yaqut Cholil Qoumas’s pre-trial motion, the judge declared Yaqut’s suspect status legally valid. “The pre-trial motion of the applicant is wholly rejected,” stated Judge Sulistyo Muhamad Dwi Putro.

Yaqut Cholil Qoumas’s legal team expressed the view that the pre-trial judge only considered the quantity of evidence without assessing its quality in the case of alleged hajj quota corruption in 2024.

The KPK’s Investigation Director, Asep Guntur Rahayu, stated that the commission would soon summon former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas regarding the alleged corruption case involving the diversion of additional hajj quotas in 2024.