Yaqut Cholil Qoumas Responds to Summons, KPK Begins Interrogation
Jakarta — The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) immediately interrogated Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, the former Religious Affairs Minister and suspect in the Hajj quota case, after he responded to a summons at 13:10 Western Indonesia Time (WIB).
“Yaqut has arrived to respond to the investigator’s summons. He arrived at the KPK Red and White Building at approximately 13:10 WIB. He is currently undergoing interrogation,” said KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to journalists in Jakarta on Thursday.
Meanwhile, upon responding to the summons, Yaqut briefly answered questions from journalists waiting for his arrival regarding his readiness to be detained by the KPK.
“Ask yourself,” said Yaqut.
Previously, on 9 August 2025, the KPK announced the launch of an investigation into an alleged corruption case concerning the determination of Hajj quotas and the administration of the Hajj pilgrimage at the Religious Affairs Ministry from 2023-2024.
On 11 August 2025, the KPK announced that the initial calculation of state losses in the case exceeded Rp1 trillion and imposed a travel ban on three individuals for six months. The three individuals prohibited from travelling were Yaqut, Ishfah Abidal Aziz (IAA), also known as Gus Alex, who served as Yaqut’s staff member, and Fuad Hasan Masyhur, the owner of Maktour, a Hajj pilgrimage organising agency.
On 9 January 2026, the KPK designated two of the three individuals as suspects in the alleged Hajj quota corruption case: Yaqut and Gus Alex.
However, Yaqut filed a pre-trial motion challenging his designation as a suspect with the South Jakarta District Court on 10 February 2026, registered as case number 19/Pid.Pra/2026/PN JKT.SEL.
On 19 February 2026, the KPK announced an extension of the travel ban only for Yaqut and Gus Alex, while Fuad’s ban was not extended.
On 27 February 2026, the KPK announced it had received an audit from the State Audit Board (BPK RI) regarding state financial losses resulting from the Hajj quota case. Subsequently, on 4 March 2026, the KPK announced that state financial losses from the case totalled Rp622 billion.
On 11 March 2026, the panel of judges at the South Jakarta District Court rejected Yaqut’s pre-trial motion.