Yaqut Admits Poor Health Ahead of Exception Hearing in Hajj Quota Corruption Case
Former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas has said he was in poor health while attending the hearing for the alleged corruption case concerning the distribution of hajj quotas and the organisation of the pilgrimage at the Ministry of Religious Affairs in 2023–2024 on Tuesday (18/8).
Yaqut said he had taken painkillers before attending the hearing at the Jakarta Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court. In this session, Yaqut was scheduled to deliver his exception or objection to the indictment of the public prosecutor from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
“Your Honour, I beg your permission, I am in a state of poor health, but I have taken painkillers and, God willing, I can follow today’s hearing. Thank you,” Yaqut said before the panel of judges.
Presiding Judge Ni Kadek Susantiani then confirmed that Yaqut’s condition still allowed him to attend the hearing.
“Very well, but you can follow the hearing, yes?” asked Ni Kadek.
“I can, Your Honour,” Yaqut replied.
In the case, the KPK public prosecutor had previously indicted Yaqut for receiving USD 271,500. Prosecutors said the money was related to the filling of additional special hajj quotas in 2023 and 2024.
Prosecutors suspect the quota filling was carried out by placing special hajj pilgrims without a waiting period, or T0. According to prosecutors, this mechanism was not in accordance with the applicable provisions and was done to accommodate requests from the Association of Special Hajj Organisers (PIHK).
“Special hajj pilgrims with a waiting period of x years, Tx, did not comply with the applicable mechanism, with the aim of accommodating requests from the Association of Special Hajj Organisers (PIHK),” the prosecutor said while reading the indictment at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Tuesday (11/8).
Prosecutors also suspect that the filling of the special hajj quota was accompanied by the receipt of acceleration fees from the pilgrims. In addition, Yaqut is said to have also arranged the determination of the distribution of the additional special hajj quota for 2024 with a composition of 50 percent without being based on a technical study.
As a result of these actions, prosecutors indicted Yaqut for enriching himself, others, or a corporation. Yaqut is said to have received a benefit of USD 271,500.
“Enriching himself, others or a corporation, namely enriching the Defendant Yaqut Cholil Qoumas in the amount of USD 271,500,” the prosecutor said.
Prosecutors also indicted that the case caused state financial losses of Rp 622.09 billion. The loss figure refers to the Investigative Examination Report of the Audit Board of Indonesia (BPK) Number 06/SR/LHP/XXI/PK.01/02/2026 dated 20 February 2026.
In the alleged corruption case concerning hajj quotas and the organisation of the pilgrimage, there are four people with defendant status.
Besides Yaqut, they are the Operational Director of PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour) Ismail Adham, the Commissioner of PT Raudah Eksati Utama and Chairman of the Indonesian Hajj and Umrah Travel Association (Kesthuri) Asrul Aziz Taba, as well as Yaqut’s former special staff member, Ishfah Abidal Aziz, also known as Gus Alex.
Today’s hearing was an opportunity for Yaqut to deliver his objection to the KPK indictment before the case enters the stage of examination of the main subject matter.