Findings Of Accommodation Problems To Hajj Catering Will Be Investigated By KPK

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) will explore a number of problems in the implementation of the 2024 Hajj based on data from the DPR Special Committee (Pansus). Among them are those related to consumption or catering matters.

"If we talk about organizing the Hajj, of course, this is quite a wide discussion, not only about the quota but also how it is held there," Budi told reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Thursday, October 9.

Therefore, Budi emphasized that investigators will not only focus on buying and selling quotas in the future.

"If we calculate the cost of organizing Hajj regarding consumption, logistics, accommodation, it will be one of the costs calculated, including items calculated in the financing of the Hajj pilgrimage," he said.

"What does that mean? It was also investigated by that information," continued Budi.

In addition, Budi stated that his party had also analyzed the findings of the DPR's Hajj Special Committee.

"And it also helps fellow investigators to continue to explore related to this case by calling witnesses," he said.

Previously reported, the KPK is investigating allegations of corruption related to quotas and the implementation of Hajj in 2023-2024 at the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag). No suspects have been named for using a general investigation warrant (sprindik).

The generalized 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.