Prosecutors Ask Judges to Reject Objection from Defendant in Hajj Quota Corruption Case

KPK prosecutors have asked the panel of judges to reject the objection submitted by Asrul Azis Taba, chairman of the Kesthuri Association. Prosecutors requested that the court continue examining the main case concerning alleged corruption in the additional hajj quota for 2023–2024.

“We request the Panel of Judges examining, adjudicating, and deciding this case to, first, reject the objection filed by the advocate of Defendant Asrul Azis Taba,” the prosecutor said at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court on Tuesday (18/8/2026).

The prosecutor stated that the indictment against Asrul meets the formal and material requirements under Article 75 paragraph 2 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The prosecutor said the elements of state loss, unlawful acts, and enriching others in this case will be proven through the examination of the main case.

“Regarding the material truth of whether the Defendant committed unlawful acts or abused the authority, opportunity, or means available to him due to his position or status, whether the Defendant enriched or benefited himself, others, or a corporation,” the prosecutor said.

“And whether the Defendant’s actions caused state losses or harmed the state economy will be discussed at the evidentiary stage through evidence to be presented in court, which will later be elaborated in detail in the factual and legal analysis of the sentencing demand,” he continued.

The prosecutor stated that the indictment has fully and carefully described the criminal events in this case. The prosecutor believes Asrul falls into the category of a participant in the offence.

“The details regarding the certainty of tempus and locus delicti will be thoroughly examined at the evidentiary stage through evidence to be presented by the public prosecutor. Therefore, the material of the Defendant’s advocate’s objection on this point should be rejected and set aside,” the prosecutor said.

The panel of judges will read the interim decision on Asrul Azis’s objection on Thursday (27/8). In this hearing, the judge also rejected the request for Asrul’s detention suspension.

Previously, Asrul Azis Taba was charged with causing state financial losses of Rp 622,090,207,166.41 (Rp 622 billion) in the alleged corruption case involving the additional hajj quota for 2023–2024. The prosecutor said the act was committed by Asrul together with former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, Yaqut’s former special staff member Ishfah Abidal Azis alias Gus Alex, and Operational Director of PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour) Ismail Adham.

The prosecutor said the filling of the additional special hajj quota for 2023–2024 carried out by the defendants contravened applicable legal provisions with the aim of accommodating requests from the association of special hajj organisers (PIHK). The prosecutor believes the case enriched Yaqut by USD 271,500, or approximately Rp 4,833,786,000 (Rp 4.8 billion) at current exchange rates.

In addition, the prosecutor believes the case also enriched several other parties, including 313 special hajj organiser corporations (PIHK). The prosecutor said there were practices of buying and selling special hajj quotas, buying and selling hajj officer quotas, and acceleration fees in this case, resulting in some pilgrims who should have departed failing to do so, while some pilgrims who were not entitled to depart were instead dispatched.