Pre-trial Petition of Former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Rejected; Judge States KPK Has Two Pieces of Evidence

Jakarta — A single judge at the Jakarta South District Court, Sulistyo Muhamad Dwi Putro, has rejected a pre-trial petition submitted by former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas against the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

The judge ruled that the KPK had designated Yaqut as a suspect in a hajj quota corruption case only after gathering sufficient evidence. “Considering that the respondent designated the petitioner as a suspect after gathering clarity regarding the occurrence of a criminal offence based on two pieces of evidence, namely evidence T-4 through T-117 supported by evidence T-135 and T-136,” the judge stated during the verdict reading session on Wednesday, 11 May 2026.

The judge also referenced Constitutional Court Decision Number 21 of 2014, which emphasises that pre-trial examination assesses only the formal aspects of suspect designation—specifically whether at least two valid pieces of evidence exist—without entering into the substantive matters of the case.

In his legal reasoning, the judge determined that only evidence relevant to the case could be used to evaluate the pre-trial petition. For example, collections of news articles from media outlets were deemed merely informational and lacking evidentiary value in this matter.

Additionally, the judge ruled that certain pieces of evidence consisting of legislation cannot serve as evidence in proceedings, as legislation constitutes the legal basis rather than evidence itself. The judge also disregarded evidence in the form of a pre-trial decision from another district court, reasoning that such a decision has not yet become established jurisprudence or a legal principle determined by the Supreme Court.

Accordingly, the judge concluded that the KPK’s designation of Yaqut Cholil Qoumas as a suspect has satisfied applicable legal requirements.