Yaqut Cholil Era Ministry Of Religion Officials Examined By KPK Today Regarding Allegations Of Corruption Hajj Quota

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) examined five witnesses regarding the alleged corruption of quotas and the implementation of Hajj in 2023-2024 today, September 17. They were officials of the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) when Yaqut Cholil Qoumas served as minister.

"The investigation was carried out at the KPK's Red and White building," said KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo to reporters in a written statement, Wednesday, September 17.

The five witnesses examined were Jaja Jali as Director of Umrah and Special Hajj in 2024; Ramadan Harisman as a civil servant at the Indonesian Ministry of Religion; and M. Agus Syafi as Head of Sub-Directorate for Licensing, Accreditation, and Development for the Implementation of Special Hajj in 2023-2024.

In addition, investigators also examined Abdul Muhyi, who is a Policy Analysis at the Directorate of Special Umrah and Hajj in 2022-2024 and Nur Arifin, who is the Director of Umrah and Special Hajj in 2023.

Budi has not yet detailed the material for the examination of these five witnesses. However, their statements are needed to investigate allegations of corruption in the hajj quota.

"KPK has scheduled an examination of witnesses suspected of corruption related to the hajj quota for the implementation of the Hajj pilgrimage in 2023-2024," he said.

Previously reported, the KPK said that allegations of corruption related to quotas and the implementation of Hajj in 2023-2024 at the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) would enter a new chapter. In the near future, the suspects will be announced because the process is running using a general investigation warrant (sprindik).

This case stems from the provision of 20,000 additional Hajj quotas from the Saudi Arabian government for Indonesia to reduce queues for pilgrims. However, the distribution turned out to be problematic because it was divided equally, namely 50 percent for regular Hajj and 50 percent for special Hajj based on the Decree (SK) of the Minister of Religion signed by Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.

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

Later, the distribution of problems was allegedly due to money from the Hajj and Umrah travel parties as well as the associations that oversee the Ministry of Religion. After getting the allotment, they sold the additional quota to prospective pilgrims.