The KPK Checks Yaqut's Staff During The Jabat Of The Minister Of Religion Regarding The Corruption Of Hajj Quota

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) examined former special staff of the Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, Ishfah Abidal Azis alias Gus Alex today.

He was examined as a witness to the alleged corruption in quotas and the implementation of Hajj in 2023-2024 at the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag).

"Today there has been a summons and attends. That's right (Ishfah Abidal Azis is being investigated, ed)," said KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo to reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Tuesday, August 26.

Even so, there was no name Ishfah Abidal in the inspection schedule that was submitted. He is also still being questioned until now.

Ishfah is known to be one of the parties prevented from leaving the country. Her house in Depok, West Java has been searched and a car has also been confiscated from there.

"Yes, the person concerned is one of the searches and is also one of the parties prevented or prohibited from traveling abroad," said Budi.

"Because it is necessary for the person concerned to remain in Indonesia so that he can follow the investigation process like today, the examination can be present and provide the necessary information," he continued.

The Acting (Plt) Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK Asep Guntur Rahayu has informed that close people Yaqut Cholil Qoumas will be summoned in the near future.

They will be investigated about the flow of money from travel agents or travel agents who receive additional hajj quota rations.

"Currently we are also investigating it (the flow of money, ed). This week, if not next week, we will just look for the closest people (ex Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, ed)," said Acting (Plt) Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK Asep Guntur Rahayu to reporters at the KPK's Red and White building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Monday, August 25.

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.

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 corrupt 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).

This case began with the provision of 20,000 additional Hajj quotas from the Saudi Arabian government for Indonesia to reduce queues for pilgrims.

However, recently the distribution turned out to be problematic because it was divided equally, namely 50 percent for regular Hajj and 50 percent for special Hajj.

In fact, based on the law, the distribution should be 92 percent for regular Hajj and 8 percent for special Hajj.