Trial: Gus Alex Confirms US$400,000 Payment to DPR Hajj Special Committee
In the trial concerning the alleged corruption of the 2023-2024 additional Hajj quota, Ishfah Abidal Azis, also known as Gus Alex, and former staff member of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU), Syaiful Bahri, confirmed the delivery of approximately US$400,000 to the DPR RI Hajj Special Committee.
This admission was made during the ongoing trial at the Corruption Court of the Central Jakarta District Court on Tuesday night (1/9). The defendants in the case include Ishfah, former Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs (2019-2024) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, and Maktour Operational Director, Ismail Adham. The name of the Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning, Nusron Wahid, was also mentioned during the proceedings.
“Did you, as a witness, know that at the time I requested it, I asked you to meet someone named Erik to deliver the sum of 400,000 US dollars to fulfil the request of Mr Zaenal Abidin, a friend of Mr Nusron Wahid?” Ishfah asked Syaiful Bahri in court.
“At that time, I did not know, Sir. But after a few days, I asked you who that actually was, and only then did you inform me,” Bahri replied.
“Then I informed you that Mr Zaenal Abidin was making the request, and at that time, I asked you to deliver it to him, as he is a friend of Mr Nusron Wahid. Is that correct?” Ishfah asked to confirm.
“Yes,” said Bahri.
“Okay. So, you understand, you understand that this was at the request of Mr Zainal Abidin and I asked you to deliver it through Mr Erik?” Ishfah added.
“Yes, after I was informed,” Bahri explained.
Previously, in the trial of Asrul Azis Taba, Chairman of the Kesthuri Association and Commissioner of PT Raudah Eksati Utama, on Tuesday (1/9), Bahri stated that he had been entrusted with money by Asrul intended for Ishfah. However, during the process, it was stated that the funds were intended to be handed over to the Hajj Special Committee, which Nusron chairs.
Ishfah also questioned Bahri regarding whether any of the money received from Asrul had been given to him.
“Regarding the money entrusted by Mr Ridwan, the amount of which you do not know, which was returned and claimed to be short by 75,000 US dollars, and the money entrusted by Mr Asrul, did you ever hand all of it to me?” Ishfah asked.
“No,” answered Bahri.
“Once more, I want to ask, did you ever hand that money to me and was that money in my possession?” Ishfah emphasised.
“No, no, because when we informed you at that time, your answer was, ‘Please contact me if it can be returned’,” Bahri recounted.
Based on the Investigative Audit Result Report from the Audit Board of the Republic of Indonesia (BPK), the alleged corruption case regarding the 2023-2024 additional Hajj quota is estimated to have caused state financial losses of Rp622,090,207,166.41 (approximately Rp622 billion).