The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Has Turned Out To Be In Saudi Arabia To Investigate The Case Of Hajj Quota

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) revealed that investigators have left for Saudi Arabia. This departure is to investigate allegations of corruption in the distribution of quotas and the implementation of the 2023-2024 Hajj pilgrimage to the Ministry of Religion.

"Investigators have departed, they are already there," said Acting Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK Asep Guntur Rahayu to reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Monday night, December 1.

Asep did not specify when the investigator would depart. However, there are a number of places where investigators visit.

"The first one visited was the Indonesian Embassy and then the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj," he said.

"Why go to the Ministry of Hajj? Of course it relates to the issue of providing the hajj quota and the availability of facilities and others. In general, that is the case," continued Asep, who also serves as Director of KPK Investigations.

The investigators are said to be still in Saudi Arabia. Still there maybe more than a week. We have received some information, photos have been submitted to us," said Asep.

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 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).

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.

Then, checks were also carried out on hundreds of travel agents or travel agents who organize special Hajj (PIHK) and confiscated money from them. However, the anti-corruption commission has not detailed the amount because the calculation is still being carried out by investigators.