South Jakarta District Court to Read Pre-Trial Ruling on Former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Today
JAKARTA — The South Jakarta District Court (PN Jaksel) has scheduled the announcement of a pre-trial ruling hearing brought by former Religious Affairs Minister (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas on Wednesday, 11 March 2026. Yaqut is challenging his designation as a suspect in an alleged corruption case involving hajj quotas.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) expresses confidence that the court ruling will favour the anti-corruption agency. The KPK maintains that all stages of case handling have been conducted in accordance with applicable legal provisions, both in formal and substantive terms.
“The KPK is certainly optimistic regarding the pre-trial hearing in the hajj quota case. We ensure that all processes carried out, both in formal and substantive aspects, have complied with applicable legal provisions,” said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo on Wednesday, 11 March 2026.
The KPK states that the designation of suspects in the case was based on sufficient evidence possessed by investigators. Consequently, the KPK invites the public to monitor the case’s development, as the hajj quota case affects the departure of pilgrims.
“We view the construction of this case not merely as a matter of state financial losses, but also encompasses social impacts felt by the community, particularly prospective hajj pilgrims,” Budi said.
Previously, Yaqut’s team contended that the KPK lacked sufficient legal basis and evidence when designating him as a suspect in the hajj quota case. This was conveyed by Yaqut’s defence team coordinator, Mellisa Anggraini, during the pre-trial hearing on the 2024 additional hajj quota case at the South Jakarta District Court (PN Jaksel) on Tuesday, 3 March 2026.
Mellisa stated that designating a person as a suspect must meet the requirements of Article 90, Paragraph (2) of Law Number 20 of 2025 concerning the Code of Criminal Procedure (KUHAP Baru). She argued that suspect designation cannot be based on legal grounds that have been revoked and declared invalid.
According to Articles 90, paragraphs (2) and (3) of the KUHAP Baru, the suspect designation must be formalised in a Suspect Designation Letter signed by the investigator and notified to the suspect no later than one day after the letter is issued. The letter must also contain the suspect’s identity, a brief description of the case, and the suspect’s rights.
“However, until this pre-trial motion was filed, our client only received a Notice of Suspect Designation Letter dated 9 January 2026, whilst the Suspect Designation Letter as required by Articles 90, paragraphs (2) and (3) of KUHAP Baru was never received,” Mellisa stated during the hearing on 3 March 2026.
Mellisa highlighted concerns regarding the Notice of Suspect Designation Letter dated 9 January 2026, particularly noting that the investigation specifically targeting Yaqut only commenced on 8 January 2026.