Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas Directly Investigated by KPK Investigators as a Suspect

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said that the former Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas immediately underwent an examination after meeting the investigators' call today, March 12.

He was questioned in his capacity as a suspect in the alleged corruption in determining quotas and the implementation of the 2023-2024 hajj in the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag).

"Currently, the examination is still being carried out," said KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to reporters through his written statement, Thursday, March 12.

Yaqut is known to have arrived at the anti-corruption commission's office at 13.00 WIB. He appeared to be wearing a black turban and a white shirt layered with a brown jacket.

When he arrived at the KPK office, Yaqut was accompanied by his lawyer, Mellisa Anggraeni, and three people who helped him pass through the crowd of reporters.

The former minister of the era of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) did not say much before entering the lobby of the building. "I attended the KPK investigator's invitation. Bismillah," he said.

Yaqut also stated that this call would be an opportunity for him to provide clarity. Meanwhile, regarding the possibility of detention, he was reluctant to talk.

"Ask yourself," he said.

Furthermore, Yaqut also denied asking for a postponement of the examination. This was conveyed after his lawyer, Mellisa Anggraeni, admitted to coordinating with the KPK.

This step was taken to question the summons letter sent on March 6. In fact, at that time, the pretrial hearing at the South Jakarta District Court (PN) was still ongoing and was only decided on Wednesday, March 11.

"There is no (asking for a delay, ed)," said Yaqut.

As previously reported, the South Jakarta District Court (PN) rejected the pretrial lawsuit filed by former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas regarding the legality or not of the determination of suspects in the corruption of quotas and the implementation of the 2023-2024 hajj by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

The verdict was read by Single Judge of the PN Jaksel, Sulistyo Muhammad Dwi Putro, today, March 11. The application was rejected in its entirety.

"To be judged: in the main case: to reject the application of the Pre-trial Applicant for all of them," said Sulistyo when reading the verdict.

The judge said the establishment of a suspect against Yaqut was in accordance with the Constitutional Court (MK) decision and the Supreme Court Regulation (Perma) Number 4 of 2016.

The pre-trial was filed after the KPK announced two suspects in the corruption case for determining quotas and organizing the 2023-2024 Hajj period at the Ministry of Religion. They are former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and staff in particular, Ishfah Abidal Aziz alias Gus Alex.

The two are suspected of causing state losses in the process of determining the Hajj quota according to the calculations of the Financial Audit Agency (BPK).

The suspicion began with the provision of 20,000 additional Hajj quotas from the Saudi Arabian government for Indonesia to reduce the queue of pilgrims. However, later 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, according to the law, the distribution should be 92 percent for regular hajj and 8 percent for special hajj.

During the course of this case, a number of parties have been examined. Among them are former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas to travel agents or travel agents who organize special hajj (PIHK), including Fuad Hasan Masyhur as the boss of Maktour.