Preacher Khalid Basalamah to testify at Yaqut case hearing today
Jakarta (ANTARA) – Preacher and owner of Hajj travel agency PT Zahra Oto Mandiri, also known as Uhud Tour, Khalid Zeed Abdullah Basalamah, is due to testify on Tuesday in the case involving Yaqut Cholil Qoumas at the Central Jakarta District Court’s Corruption Court.
Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) public prosecutor Fahmi Idris said Khalid would also testify in the cases against the three other defendants: Ishfah Abidal Aziz, also known as Gus Alex; Ismail Adham; and Asrul Aziz Taba.
“Khalid Zeed Abdullah Basalamah will give evidence under oath for all four defendants,” the prosecutor said at the start of the hearing.
The prosecutor said other witnesses would also be examined at the same hearing: businessman Umar Abdul Aziz, also known as Umar Bakadam, and Irwanto, deputy for finance at the Hajj Fund Management Agency (BPKH).
However, Umar Bakadam was unable to attend because he was receiving hospital treatment, leaving only Khalid and Irwanto to appear at the hearing.
Khalid had previously been summoned to testify in the case but requested a new date after being unable to attend on Thursday (8 October).
The KPK has questioned Khalid several times during its investigation into alleged corruption involving the determination of Hajj quotas and the organisation of the pilgrimage by the Ministry of Religious Affairs in 2023–2024.
Among other matters, the commission has investigated Khalid’s knowledge of Hajj administration and money he handed over to the anti-graft agency during the investigation.
Yaqut is accused of causing state losses of Rp622.09 billion by reallocating and setting the distribution of an additional special Hajj quota for 2024, with 50 per cent allocated without a technical assessment.
He is also alleged to have filled additional special Hajj quotas in 2023 and 2024 with special pilgrims who had no waiting period (TO) or a waiting period of X years (Tx), contrary to the established mechanism.
Yaqut allegedly acted together with his former special staff member Ishfah Abidal Aziz, also known as Gus Alex; Maktour operations director Ismail Adham; and former chairman of the Indonesian Hajj and Umrah Travel Association, Asrul Aziz Taba.
The additional special Hajj quotas were allegedly filled to accommodate requests from PIHK associations, with expedited processing fees received from pilgrims and special Hajj officers.
The state losses included Rp438.22 billion from the difference between PIHK revenues and expenditure for the 2024 Hajj for special pilgrims who were not entitled to travel.
A further Rp39.95 billion came from PIHK receipts for the sale of special Hajj officer quotas in 2024, while Rp143.92 billion came from expedited processing fees for additional special Hajj quotas in 2023 and 2024 for pilgrims who were not entitled to travel.
Several parties allegedly benefited from the case, including Yaqut, who is said to have received US$271,500, equivalent to Rp4.83 billion.
Yaqut has been charged under Article 603 in conjunction with Article 20(c) of the National Criminal Code, or Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 of Law No. 31/1999 on the Eradication of Corruption, as amended by Law No. 20/2001.