Yaqut Challenges Corruption Charges, Questions Missing Name in Indictment

Former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, through his legal team, has mounted a challenge against the corruption case concerning the 2023-2024 hajj quota. Advocate Dodi Abdulkadir stated the challenge was filed because the legal team identified several issues in the prosecution’s legal construction used to implicate Yaqut. One key concern is the disappearance of Fuad Hasan Masyhur’s name from the final indictment, despite being mentioned several times throughout the case. The trial is set to continue with the defence’s challenge. Dodi questioned why Yaqut should be held criminally responsible for mistakes made by others, highlighting Fuad’s role since the additional hajj quota issue in 2020. He argued the case overlooks other parties allegedly involved in the buying, selling, or utilisation of hajj quotas. The legal team also disputes the accusation that Yaqut received 271,000 US dollars, noting the indictment does not clearly explain the evidence of this receipt. They questioned why bribery or gratification charges were not applied if a state official allegedly received money. Another highlighted issue is the application of administrative law, arguing that Yaqut’s actions in issuing policies as a minister should be tested within the administrative law framework. Furthermore, lawyer Mellisa Anggraini challenged the basis of the Rp622 billion state loss calculation, which includes profits from special hajj operators (PIHK) from dispatched pilgrims, the sale of officer quotas, and the dispatch of allegedly ineligible pilgrims with acceleration fees. She questioned how profits received by PIHK from pilgrims’ money could be categorised as a state loss, arguing that if any ministry officials profited, it should be constructed as bribery or gratification, not automatically as a state loss.