KPK Will Summon Former Minister Of Religion Yaqut After Searching A Number Of Places Related To Corruption Hajj Quota

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has confirmed that former Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas will be summoned in connection with the investigation of alleged corruption in quotas and the implementation of Hajj in 2023-2024. His information will definitely be needed after investigators collect evidence through searches in a number of locations.

"Of course later (ex-Menag Yaqut Cholil Qoumas' statement, ed) will be needed because indeed the information from the person concerned is needed by investigators to help reveal this case, yes," said KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo to reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Friday, August 15.

"So that what we are looking for in this investigation process can also be obtained from both a series of searches and later from the examination of witnesses," he continued.

The anti-corruption commission from the start stated that it would investigate the Decree (SK) of the Minister of Religion Number 130 of 2024 concerning additional hajj quotas. As for the regulation, 20,000 additional quotas from Saudi Arabia obtained by Indonesia were divided by 50 percent for special Hajj and 50 percent for regular Hajj.

Later, this distribution was considered problematic because it was not in accordance with the law. Supposedly, the regular quota is divided by 92 percent while the rest is or 8 percent for special Hajj.

Previously reported, the KPK has issued a general investigation warrant (sprindik) for alleged corruption in the addition of quotas and the implementation of Hajj. This institution reasoned that the issuance was carried out so that they could make forced efforts.

"With this public sprindik, we are more free to collect evidence and also collect information so that it makes light of a case that we are currently handling," said Acting Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK Asep Guntur Rahayu at a press conference at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Saturday morning, August 9.

The general Sprindik uses Article 2 Paragraph 1 and/or Article 3 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2021 in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code. This means that there are state losses that occur due to this rasuah practice.

State losses in the corruption case of quota and Hajj for the period 2023-2024 are said to have reached more than IDR 1 trillion. This amount is still increasing because it is only the initial calculation of the KPK which continues to coordinate with the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) of the Republic of Indonesia.

During the investigation process, the KPK has summoned a number of parties. Among them Yaqut Cholil Qoumas as the former Minister of Religion (Menag) who has now been prevented from leaving the country for six months.