Suspect in Hajj Quota Corruption Case Could Face Money Laundering Charges
The coordinator of Indonesia’s Anti-Corruption Society (MAKI), Boyamin Saiman, believes that the alleged corruption case involving former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas has the potential to be expanded with the application of money laundering offences (TPPU). He supports the Corruption Eradication Commission’s (KPK) decision to detain Qoumas during the investigation.
“If it cannot be pursued through other means, then the money laundering statute must be applied,” Boyamin told Media Indonesia on Friday, 13 March.
Boyamin argues that the investigation into this case should not stop at alleged corruption charges alone. He is urging the KPK to trace the flow of funds, estimated to reach hundreds of billions of rupiah in the case, and to consider applying money laundering statutes.
“Actually, it is not specific to Yaqut. From this hajj case, I am requesting that the money laundering statute be applied to other perpetrators who launder money,” he said.
Additionally, Boyamin stated that his organisation has been pushing the KPK to detain Qoumas from the outset. He therefore appreciated the anti-corruption agency’s decision to proceed with detention.
“We have even prepared ourselves to file a pretrial motion if Yaqut is not detained by the KPK,” Boyamin said in his statement.
According to him, the detention measure is important given that Qoumas has already lost a previous pretrial lawsuit regarding his legal status in the case.
“In any case, he has already lost the pretrial motion. So we support and appreciate the KPK’s performance,” he said.
Furthermore, Boyamin explained that there is currently no evidence that Qoumas directly benefited from the flow of funds. However, the investigation must continue to trace which parties allegedly received or benefited from the proceeds of corruption.
“The approximately Rp600 billion in funds—who is enjoying them and whether they can still be recovered or not? If these funds can no longer be retrieved or their location is difficult to trace, then law enforcement can use the money laundering instrument to pursue assets resulting from crime,” he concluded.
The KPK has detained Yaqut Cholil Qoumas for an initial detention period of 20 days. The modus operandi employed by the suspects allowed newly registered pilgrims to depart immediately by paying a specified sum. The summoning of suspects is a mandatory procedure before charges are referred to court. The alleged bribery originated from a policy distributing an additional quota of 20,000 hajj pilgrims, which was deemed to violate regulations. The KPK has exposed the role of Fuad Hasan Masyhur in the 2023 hajj quota scandal, allegedly having written to the former religious affairs minister regarding additional quotas that caused the state a loss of Rp622 billion.