Former Investigator Requests KPK Supervisory Board to Investigate the Change in the Status of Detention of Yaqut Cholil Qoumas

JAKARTA - Former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Yudi Purnomo urged the KPK Supervisory Board to proactively trace the change in the status of the detention of former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.

This was conveyed by Yudi in response to the polemics caused by the change in the status of the detention of suspects in the corruption case of determining quotas and the implementation of the 2023-2024 hajj pilgrimage at the Ministry of Religion.

"It is not difficult for Dewas as a supervisory body to be proactive to investigate why this prisoner transfer occurred and who is responsible," Yudi told reporters in a written statement quoted on Wednesday, March 25.

Yudi said that there were several parties who could be questioned. In addition to investigators and officials at the KPK's Enforcement and Execution Department, he said, the KPK leadership must also be asked about the decisions taken.

"Because the key is in the investigators, the director of investigations, the deputy for enforcement, and the head of the KPK, just call them to get a complete picture of why the decision was made," he said.

Furthermore, Yudi said, this step is not a form of intervention in the ongoing law enforcement process. In addition, the investigation is also important for future improvement steps.

Moreover, there has been a commotion due to the change in status from house arrest to house arrest.

"Even though the KPK finally revoked the house arrest status and returned Yaqut to the detention house, the rice has become porridge," said Yudi.

"Criticism of the KPK is rampant in the media and social media. Of course this is dangerous for the KPK's efforts to restore their image so that they can be trusted by the public again," he continued.

Yaqut is known to have been under house arrest since Thursday, March 19. The transfer of the detention status was carried out after there was a request from the family on March 17 or five days after the detention on Thursday, March 12.

This incident then became a controversy in the community. A number of parties, including former investigators, highlighted the KPK's attitude because the change of the status of detention was the first time it was carried out.

Meanwhile, the KPK said that the change in status from prison detention to house arrest was claimed by the KPK to have been reviewed and in accordance with Article 108 paragraph (1) and (11) of Law Number 20 of 2025 concerning the Criminal Procedure Code.

Article 108 paragraph (11) regulates that the transfer of type of detention can be carried out based on an investigation order which is given to the suspect, the suspect's family, and the interested parties.