Reactions from KPK Detainees When Former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut is Granted House Arrest

VIVA – Former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas was reportedly not in the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) detention centre during the Eid al-Fitr holiday in 2026. The news was revealed by the wife of the suspect, former Deputy Minister of Manpower Immanuel Ebenezer Gerungan, namely Silvia Rinita Harefa, regarding the former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas not spending Eid in state detention. Silvia, who visited her husband on 21 March 2026—the suspect in the alleged extortion corruption case—conveyed to journalists waiting for her that information was circulating among the detainees about Yaqut not being seen in the detention centre. “Earlier, I didn’t see Gus Yaqut. The info is that he left on Thursday night (19/3),” said Silvia. She received information that Yaqut was also not seen during the Eid al-Fitr prayers on 21 March 2026. “According to people inside, he’s not there. He’s not present,” she said. When further questioned whether only Ebenezer knew this information, she stated that all detainees were aware. “Everyone knows about it. They’re just wondering. They said there was an examination, but it’s unlikely to have an examination on the eve of takbiran night. Even up to today (Saturday, 21/3), there hasn’t been any,” she explained. KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo confirmed that former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut—the suspect in the hajj quota corruption—has not been at the KPK Detention Centre since the night of 19 March 2026. Yaqut’s detention status has been changed to house arrest. “This change is not permanent,” said KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to journalists in Jakarta on Saturday. Therefore, he said the KPK will inform the public about how long Yaqut will remain under house arrest status. “As for until when, it will be updated (announced) later,” he said. Yaqut was named as one of the suspects in the alleged corruption case related to Indonesia’s 2023-2024 hajj quota by the KPK on 9 January 2026. On 12 March 2026, the KPK detained Yaqut at the KPK’s Red White Building Branch State Detention Centre after his pre-trial was rejected on 11 March 2026. The case was stated by the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPK) of Indonesia to have caused state losses of up to Rp622 billion.