Monday Morning Yaqut Responds To KPK's Call, Examined For Hajj Quota Case Of IDR 1 Trillion

JAKARTA - Former Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas fulfilled the summons of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) today, September 1. He said he would be examined as a witness to alleged corruption in quotas and the implementation of Hajj in 2023-2024 at the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag).

"Yes, I attended the summons from the KPK as a witness," Yaqut told reporters at the KPK's Red and White building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Monday, September 1.

Yaqut arrived at the anti-corruption commission office at around 09.18 WIB. He seemed accompanied by a number of people.

The former minister of the era of the 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), admitted that he did not bring any documents. Yaqut only emphasized that he was ready to be examined before investigators.

"Giving information as I know it," he said.

Meanwhile, KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo agreed that Yaqut would be examined as a witness. He said the information presented was needed to investigate allegations of corruption that were being handled.

"We believe the witness will attend and provide information in the examination. So that it helps the investigation process to make this case clear," said KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo in a written statement, Monday, September 1.

Yaqut is known to have been questioned by the anti-corruption commission during the investigation process. At that time, he admitted that he explained the issue of distributing 20,000 additional hajj quotas from the Saudi Arabian government to break down the queues for Indonesian pilgrims.

Meanwhile, when he entered the investigation stage, Yaqut was then prevented from leaving the country with two other people. The travel ban is intended so that investigators can easily ask for information.

In addition, at the investigation stage, Yaqut's house had also been searched and a number of evidences were found, including cellphones. This finding will later be extracted and examined by investigators.

As for this case, the KPK has also investigated Ishfah Abidal Azis alias Gus Alex as Yaqut's special staff while serving as Minister of Religion. He was questioned about the distribution of problematic hajj quotas.

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.