KPK Investigators' Findings in Saudi Arabia to be Asked to Ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs Yaqut During Examination
JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) examined the former Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas regarding alleged corruption in determining quotas and the implementation of the 2023-2024 hajj on today, December 16. He will be questioned about several things, including the findings of investigators obtained from Saudi Arabia some time ago.
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It is known that the KPK investigation team had departed for Saudi Arabia to seek additional evidence a few weeks ago. There, they coordinated with the local Hajj ministry to many parties.
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"Investigators have also conducted examinations and requested information from a number of parties when visiting Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the scheduling for today's examination will complete these statements," said KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to reporters at the KPK Red and White Building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Tuesday, December 16.
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Then, Yaqut will also be questioned about other findings obtained by investigators. "So later, if we look at the construction of the case, this is based on the addition of a quota for the Hajj of 20,000, which was then discredited, 50 percent for regular and 50 percent for special," said Budi.
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Meanwhile, the acting deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK, Asep Guntur Rahayu, said Yaqut would also be questioned about state losses. However, he did not specify.
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"We are investigating the state's financial losses, yes," he told reporters, Monday evening, December 15.
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Yaqut arrived at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta at around 11.42 WIB. He was accompanied by a number of people, including Anna Hasbie as a spokesperson and Mellisa Anggraeni.
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There was no statement made by Yaqut when he arrived at the anti-corruption commission's office. In fact, he seemed to be in a hurry without stopping his steps.
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"Please, yes, please, I'll go in first, please," he said in a hurry.
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As previously reported, the KPK has issued a general investigation order (sprindik) for alleged corruption in adding quotas and organizing the hajj. This institution reasoned that the issuance was carried out so that they could carry out coercive efforts.
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The Sprindik general uses Article 2 Paragraph 1 and/or Article 3 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2021 jo article 55 paragraph 1-1 of the Criminal Code. This means that there is state loss that occurs due to this corrupt practice.
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The state's losses in the 2023-2024 quota and Hajj corruption cases are said to have reached more than Rp1 trillion. This number is still increasing because it is only the initial count of the KPK which continues to coordinate with the Financial Supervisory Board (BPK).
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This case started with the provision of 20,000 additional Hajj quotas from the Saudi Arabian government for Indonesia to reduce the queue of pilgrims.
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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 legislation, the distribution should be 92 percent for regular hajj and 8 percent for special hajj.