Yaqut’s Lawyer Says KPK Is Inconsistent in Suspect Designation

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Mellisa Anggraini, the legal counsel for former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, has criticised the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for inconsistency in the process of designating a suspect against her client.

The remarks were made after the respondent’s duplik hearing in the praperadilan case No. 19/Pid.Pra/2026 at the South Jakarta District Court on Wednesday, 4 March 2026.

Mellisa said the inconsistency was evident in the use of different legal bases, namely between the old Penal Code and the new Penal Code.

“Earlier, the KPK stated that they referred to the old Penal Code as justification for the letter of designation that was not handed over. Then, the articles used were still Article 2 and Article 3 of the Corruption Eradication Law and Article 55 of the old Penal Code, even though those should have been repealed,” she said.

“Here it is stated that under Article 143 letter d of Law Number 20 of 2025 on the Penal Code, witnesses have the right and so on. In other words, they are not consistent. On one hand, they claim the legal process uses the old Penal Code, but on the other hand they use the new Penal Code,” she said.

“In the notice of designation as a suspect, they also listed legal bases that include both the old and the new Penal Code simultaneously. This demonstrates inconsistency,” she emphasised.

The praperadilan was filed to test the validity or otherwise of the designation of Yaqut as a suspect in the alleged corruption case currently being handled by the KPK.

The hearing will continue with the next agenda as scheduled by the panel of judges.