Yaqut Placed Under House Arrest, Ray Rangkuti: A Bad Precedent for Eradicating Corruption
Executive Director of Lingkar Madani (LiMA), Ray Rangkuti, has criticised the Corruption Eradication Commission’s (KPK) policy of granting house arrest status to the suspect in the hajj quota corruption case, former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas. Ray views the family request underlying the change in detention as a bad precedent that indicates a decline in the anti-corruption mentality within the KPK.
Ray emphasised that this policy reflects the KPK’s weak vision in distinguishing extraordinary crimes like corruption from minor criminal acts.
“If the KPK’s vision sees corruption case detainees as no more serious than chicken thieves, then it’s tantamount to calling corruption cases trivial. This evokes a piercing sense of sorrow,” Ray stated in a written release on Sunday (22/3/2026).
According to Ray, the legal basis for changing detention using Article 108 paragraphs (1) and (11) of Law No. 20 of 2025 on the Criminal Procedure Code does exist. However, using it solely because of a family request will invite similar demands from other detainees in the name of justice and equality before the law.
“If it’s purely because of a family request, it’s almost certain that all KPK suspects in detention centres will make the same demand. For the sake of justice, the KPK must fulfil them. This is where the KPK is being weakened from within,” he asserted.
Ray also compared Yaqut’s fate with that of activists and minor offenders who remain languishing in detention centres and cannot celebrate Eid al-Fitr with their families. This disparity in treatment is seen as wounding society’s sense of justice.
Beyond the legal aspect, Ray highlighted the potential budget waste due to house arrest status. He noted that strict supervision of house detainees requires deploying personnel and costs that are not insignificant compared to centralised detention in a facility.
“This is a waste of state funds. Amid the spirit of efficiency, how many officers must be deployed to monitor the activities of house detainees? The KPK should consider avoiding unnecessary expenditure,” he continued.
Ray urged the KPK leadership to revoke the house arrest status for the suspect in the alleged hajj quota corruption case if there are no specific reasons beyond the family request. He fears this step could become a boomerang that destroys systemic anti-corruption efforts.
“This step sends a signal of weakening. We view that the KPK must cancel the house detention transfer to maintain the institution’s dignity and ensure no discrimination in law enforcement,” he concluded.
KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo explained that Yaqut’s detention has now changed to house arrest. He clarified that the shift in Yaqut’s detention status was not due to health reasons.
“Not because of illness,” Budi told reporters on Sunday (22/3/2026).
Budi said the house arrest for Yaqut was implemented after the KPK received a request from the family side. The KPK then granted the request, without providing further details on the family’s reasons for submitting the application.
“So indeed because there was a request from the family, then we processed it,” Budi explained.
The KPK also explained the different treatment received by Yaqut compared to other KPK detainees like former Papua Governor Lukas Enembe, whose detention was once postponed due to illness. Budi only stated that each investigation has different case handling strategies.
“Why different from LE? Every investigation process naturally has different conditions and case handling strategies, including in detaining someone as a suspect,” Budi clarified.
Chairman of Exponen 08, M. Damar, called for the KPK Supervisory Board or other relevant authorities to immediately examine the KPK officials who allowed Yaqut Cholil Qoumas to become a house detainee.
The KPK guarantees that the shift in detention status of former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas to house arrest will not disrupt the legal process in the 2024 hajj quota corruption case.
Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) assesses this as highly risky because there is potential for the disappearance of evidence in the hajj quota corruption case.
All data and findings will later be thoroughly examined in the trial process.
The role of Gus Alex in this case was first to coordinate the implementers of special hajj worship (PIHK) in Indonesia for the distribution of additional quotas.
Chairman of Exponen 08, M. Damar, called for the KPK Supervisory Board or other relevant authorities to immediately examine the KPK officials who allowed Yaqut Cholil Qoumas to become a house detainee.
The KPK guarantees that the shift in detention status of former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas to house arrest will not disrupt the legal process in the 2024 hajj quota corruption case.
KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo stated that the change in detention status of former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas from detention centre to house arrest is temporary.
ICW urged the KPK Supervisory Board to examine the anti-corruption agency’s leadership after shifting the detention status of former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas from detention centre to house arrest.
ICW criticised the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for shifting the detention status of former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas from detention centre (Rutan) to house arrest.