Transferred to House Arrest, Yaqut Only Detained for 7 Days in KPK Detention Centre
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has transferred the detention of former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas to house arrest. Yaqut received this status after being held for seven days in the KPK detention centre.
According to a detikcom summary on Sunday (22/3/2026), Yaqut was detained by the KPK since Thursday (12/3) in connection with a corruption case involving Hajj quotas. Ideally, KPK suspects undergo the initial 20 days of detention in the facility until it is extended prior to the start of court proceedings.
However, after just seven days in the KPK detention centre, Yaqut’s detention status was changed. The KPK moved Yaqut to house arrest starting from Thursday (19/3).
The change in Yaqut’s detention status was not first announced by the KPK. Yaqut’s absence from the KPK detention centre was initially revealed by the wife of former Deputy Minister of Manpower Immanuel Ebenezer (Noel), Silvia Rinita Harefa, after visiting Noel during the Eid al-Fitr moment on Saturday (21/3).
“This one, earlier I didn’t see Gus Yaqut. The info is that he left on Thursday night,” said Silvia at the KPK detention centre on Saturday (21/3).
Yaqut’s disappearance from the KPK detention centre also raised questions among other KPK detainees. Silvia said her husband and other KPK detainees did not know the reason for Yaqut’s release from the detention cell.
“Everyone knows about it. They were just wondering, saying there was an examination, but it’s unlikely there would be an examination on the eve of Takbiran night,” explained Silvia.
Based on Noel’s testimony to Silvia, Yaqut was also not seen when the KPK detainees performed Eid prayers in the facility. The KPK is known to facilitate Eid prayers for Muslim detainees.
“The info is that he was going to be examined ahead, but for Eid prayers, according to people inside, he wasn’t there,” said Silvia.
Not Transferred Due to Illness
After the buzz from Noel’s wife’s testimony, the KPK finally spoke out to explain Yaqut’s whereabouts. On Saturday night (21/3), KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo stated that Yaqut is currently under house arrest.
“Correct, the investigators have carried out a change in the type of detention for suspect YCQ, from detention in the KPK detention centre to house arrest, since Thursday night (19/3),” said Budi.
The KPK did not provide a clear reason for the change in Yaqut’s detention status. The KPK only stated that house arrest for Yaqut is temporary.
“We assure that this temporary detention change process complies with the provisions and procedures for investigation and detention of a suspect,” he added.
Budi also stated that the transfer of Yaqut’s detention to house arrest was not due to health factors. Budi said the house arrest for Yaqut was carried out after the KPK received a request from the family. The KPK then granted the request without providing further details on the family’s reasons for submitting the application.
“Not because of illness. It was indeed due to a request from the family, which we then processed,” explained Budi.