KPK Finds Misused Officer Quota After Examining Witness In Hajj Quota Corruption Case

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) suspects that there was misuse of the quota of officers during the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage.

KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo said the findings were obtained when investigators examined witnesses in the alleged corruption case of quotas and the implementation of Hajj in 2023-2024 at the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag). This request for information was made at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Wednesday, October 1.

"In this examination, the KPK also found a quota of hajj officers who were suspected of being blamed for it," Budi said in his statement, Thursday, October 2.

The witnesses examined were Firman M Nur as General Chair of Amphuri; M. Firman Taufik as General Chair of the Umrah and Hajj Organizing Association (Himpuh); Syam Resfiadi as Chairman of Sapuhi; H. Amaluddin as Commissioner of PT Ebad Al Rahman Wisata and Director of PT Diva Mabruro; and Lutfhi Abdul Jabbar as Secretary General of Mutiara Haji.

Actually, there are other witnesses who will be examined but not present. They are Asrul Aziz Taba as the General Chair of the Indonesian Umrah Hajj Association (Kesthuri) and Muhammad Farid Aljawi as the Daily Chair of the Association for the Togetherness of Hajj and Umrah Travel Entrepreneurs (BERSATHU).

Budi further said that there was another request for information made by investigators. Among other things, related to the payment mechanism in the implementation of special Hajj by PIHK (Special Hajj Organizers) through the user held by the Association.

In the future, the KPK reminds those summoned in the corruption case of cooperative hajj quotas. Budi said that his party did not hesitate to make coercive efforts against anyone who did not fulfill their obligations before the law.

"Given that the KPK has the authority to make forced efforts at the investigation stage, such as preventive measures abroad to parties whose existence is needed to remain in Indonesia, in order to provide the information needed by investigators," 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 determined because of the process that runs using a general investigation warrant (sprindik).

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 number 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 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.

During the investigation process, a number of parties have been questioned, including Yaqut Cholil Qoumas. Investigators have also searched his house and found documents and electronic evidence that are suspected to be related.