Yaqut Appears in Pre-trial Hearing but KPK Requests Postponement
Former Minister of Religious Affairs, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, also known as Gus Yaqut, appeared at the pre-trial hearing. However, the KPK (Corruption Eradication Commission) requested that the pre-trial hearing be postponed.
Yaqut attended the South Jakarta District Court on Tuesday, 24 February 2026, at 10:00 am. He was accompanied by his legal counsel, Mellisa Anggraini. Supporters of Gus Yaqut were seen wearing all-black attire. The Chairman of PBNU (Nahdlatul Ulama), Ulil Abshar Abdallah, also known as Gus Ulil, was present in the courtroom. “Alhamdulillah, I’m doing well,” said Yaqut. The petitioner in the case, number 19/Pid.Pra/2026/PN JKT.SEL, is Yaqut. The respondent is the KPK, represented by the KPK leadership.
KPK Requests Hearing Postponement The KPK was not present at the hearing. The KPK requested a postponement of today’s hearing. “The KPK, through the Legal Bureau, has submitted a request for a postponement of today’s hearing. Considering that the team is simultaneously attending four other pre-trial hearings,” said KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo when contacted on Tuesday, 24 February 2026. The presiding judge, Sulistyo Muhammad Dwi Putro, stated that the KPK had submitted a request for a postponement. The pre-trial hearing was decided to be postponed until 3 March. “We will postpone the hearing for one week, to 3 March 2026. We will summon the KPK for the second or final time. According to the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP), if the KPK does not attend on 3 March, the hearing will still proceed,” said the judge. The judge briefly reprimanded Yaqut’s supporters who were cheering in the courtroom due to the KPK’s absence. The judge asked the attendees to respect the pre-trial process. “Huuu…,” shouted Yaqut’s supporters who were watching the hearing. They were wearing black t-shirts with Yaqut’s picture on them. “There is no need to shout. It is Ramadan, let us respect the dignity of the hearing and the month of Ramadan. You have been allowed to sit here, which means your rights have been fulfilled. Your obligation is to maintain order,” said the judge.
Hajj Quota Corruption Case This case, investigated by the KPK, concerns the allocation of an additional 20,000 hajj quotas for Indonesia in 2024. At that time, the hajj was still managed by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, and Yaqut was the Minister. Indonesia obtained the additional quota after the then-President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), lobbied Saudi Arabia. The additional quota was intended to reduce the waiting list for regular Indonesian pilgrims, which could reach 20 years or more. Before the additional quota, Indonesia received a hajj quota of 221,000 pilgrims in 2024. After the addition, the total hajj quota for Indonesia in 2024 became 241,000. The additional quota was then divided equally, with 10,000 for regular hajj and 10,000 for special hajj. However, the Hajj Law stipulates that the special hajj quota should only be 8 percent of the total hajj quota for Indonesia. In the end, Indonesia used a quota of 213,320 for regular hajj pilgrims and 27,680 for special hajj pilgrims in 2024. The KPK stated that the policy during Yaqut’s tenure resulted in 8,400 regular hajj pilgrims who had been on the waiting list for more than 14 years and were supposed to be able to depart after the additional quota in 2024, but instead, they were unable to depart. The KPK also stated that there is an initial indication of state losses of Rp 1 trillion in this case. The KPK has seized houses, cars, and even US dollars related to this case. On 9 January 2026, the KPK announced that it had named Yaqut and his former Special Staff, Ishfah Abidal Aziz (IAA), also known as Gus Alex, as suspects. However, the KPK has not yet explained the details of the case involving Yaqut and Gus Alex.