Yaqut's Lawyer Challenges 6 March Summons at KPK

Former Religion Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, through his lawyer, visited the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) offices to verify an examination summons dated 6 March 2026.

Yaqut’s lawyer, Mellisa Anggraini, stated the visit was necessary because KPK Deputy for Prosecution and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu had indicated during a pretrial court hearing on Wednesday that the commission would “only be scheduling a summons.”

“We visited the KPK to clarify the 6 March 2026 summons because yesterday during the pretrial ruling, Mr Asep stated they were only going to schedule a summons. We questioned the status of this summons given the pretrial proceedings are still ongoing,” Mellisa said when contacted via written message on Thursday (12 March).

“We have already coordinated with the KPK,” she added.

KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo confirmed the coordination and stated that the commission was still awaiting formal documentation if a postponement request was to be submitted.

“We still require formal documentation if a postponement is being requested. This must include the reasons for rescheduling,” Budi said.

“They just came to reception. We are still waiting for the letter,” he continued.

The postponement request would not be automatically granted by the KPK. Investigators would consider the reasons provided by Yaqut before making a decision.

Previously, a single judge at the South Jakarta District Court, Sulistyo Muhammad Dwi Putro, rejected the pretrial petition filed on behalf of Yaqut Cholil Qoumas in its entirety.

“The Court rules: regarding the substantive case: the Court rejects the petitioner’s pretrial petition in its entirety,” the judge stated in the courtroom of Oemar Seno Adji at South Jakarta District Court on Wednesday (11 March).

The judge determined that the suspect status assigned by the KPK to Yaqut was consistent with Constitutional Court Decision No. 21 of 2014 dated 28 April 2015 and Supreme Court Regulation (Perma) No. 4 of 2016.

In response, KPK Deputy for Prosecution and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu expressed gratitude at being able to proceed with handling the alleged corruption case involving additional hajj quotas. This week, he stated, the KPK has scheduled examination of Yaqut.

“Given his status is now suspect, and he has been summoned, this week,” he said.

Asep stated that investigators have scheduled questioning of Yaqut for this week.

“We have already scheduled the summons in the near future. He will be summoned first as a suspect. Of course, his status is currently suspect. This week,” he added.

This one-star police general stated that handling the alleged corruption case involving additional hajj quotas is a priority for closure. Particularly given that the Investigation Order (Sprindik) was issued as far back as August last year.

Asep assured that the KPK would expedite resolution of the case.

“We want to do this as quickly as possible because this is a case whose Investigation Order dates back to last year, August if I recall correctly, and it has been ongoing, which is why it is a priority,” he said.

Yaqut and his special staff member Ishfah Abidal Azizali, also known as Gus Alex, have been designated as suspects by the KPK in the alleged corruption case involving additional hajj quotas. However, neither has been detained to date.

Nevertheless, the KPK has requested that the Directorate General of Immigration prevent Yaqut and Ishfah from travelling abroad for six months until 12 August 2026.

During the investigation process, the KPK has conducted searches at several locations including Yaqut’s residence in Condet, East Jakarta; hajj and umrah travel agency offices in Jakarta; a Ministry of Religion civil servant’s home in Depok; and the office of the Directorate General for Hajj and Umrah (PHU) of the Ministry of Religion.

Numerous pieces of evidence allegedly related to the case were seized, including documents, electronic evidence, motor vehicles and property.

Based on calculations by the Financial Audit Board (BPK), the state reportedly suffered losses amounting to 622.090.207.166.41 rupiah (622 billion rupiah) from the alleged corruption case involving additional hajj quotas for the 2023 and 2024 pilgrimage seasons.

This figure was released some time after Yaqut and Ishfah were designated and announced by the KPK as suspects.