Yaqut Fights Back, Questions Why Fuad Hasan's Name Disappears from End of Indictment

Former Religious Affairs Minister for 2020-2024, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, will read out a notice of objection to the indictment over alleged corruption in Indonesia’s hajj quota for 2023-2024 at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court on Tuesday (18/8/2026).

According to the Case Tracking Information System (SIPP) of the Central Jakarta District Court, the hearing for the defendant’s objection will be held at 10.15 WIB in the Muhammad Hatta Ali courtroom.

Yaqut’s lawyer, Dodi Abdulkadir, explained that the objection was filed because the legal team considers there to be a number of problems in the legal construction used by prosecutors to ensnare Yaqut.

“One of the things we are questioning is the disappearance of Fuad Hasan Masyhur’s name from the final part of the indictment, even though the name is mentioned several times in the series of events,” Dodi said when met after the hearing at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court on Tuesday (11/8/2026).

Dodi questioned why various mistakes made by other people are being held criminally accountable by Yaqut. He therefore raised Fuad’s role, which has been present since the issue of the additional hajj quota in 2020.

He considers the case to be ignoring various parties suspected of being involved in the buying and selling or utilisation of hajj quotas.

In addition, the legal team is disputing the allegation that Yaqut received US$271,000, arguing that the indictment does not clearly explain the evidence of receipt of the money.

In the alleged hajj quota corruption case, Yaqut is charged with causing state financial losses of Rp622.09 billion for diverting and regulating the allocation of the special additional hajj quota for 2024 by 50 percent without a technical study basis.