Meet the KPK's Call in the Hajj Quota Corruption Case, Former Minister of Sports Dito Ariotedjo Appears Different

JAKARTA - Former Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora) Dito Ariotedjo again met the call of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) today. He looked different because he was thinner than before.

From VOI's observation, Dito arrived at around 09.58 WIB at the KPK Red and White building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta. He admitted that he came to be examined as a witness to the corruption case of determining quotas and the implementation of the 2023-2024 hajj pilgrimage at the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) which ensnared the former Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.

"This is an invitation related to the case of the hajj," Dito told reporters at the location.

Dito admitted that he did not bring any files. "Just bring this," he said while showing an invitation in a brown envelope.

Meanwhile, when asked about his new, thinner appearance, Dito smiled a lot. He admitted that he had just participated in the Hyrox INA 2026 competition held last week.

"Yes (participate in Hyrox INA, ed). Finish under two hours. Relay, relay. It's our first time," he said with a laugh before entering the building.

Until now, the KPK has not explained the matter of Dito's examination. However, he has already been questioned by investigators in the same case on Friday, January 23.

The KPK at that time said that Dito's testimony was needed by investigators to strengthen evidence. Because, Dito also accompanied the entourage of the 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widododalam a visit to Saudi Arabia to hold a bilateral meeting with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Muhammad bin Salman (MBS) in 2023.

As previously reported, the KPK has named four suspects in the alleged corruption case for determining quotas and organizing the 2023-2024 Hajj pilgrimage at the Ministry of Religion. They are former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, former Special Staff to the Minister of Religion Ishfah Abidal Azis alias Gus Alex, Director of Operations of Maktour Travel Ismail Adhan, and former General Chairman of the Indonesian Republic of Hajj Umrah Travel Union (Kesthuri) Asrul Azis Taba.

The investigation began with the distribution of 20,000 additional Hajj quotas given by the Government of Saudi Arabia to Indonesia in 2023 and 2024. Based on Law Number 8 of 2019 concerning the Implementation of the Hajj and Umrah and the agreement of the Panja Commission VIII of the DPR RI, the additional quota should be divided with a composition of 92 percent for regular Hajj and 8 percent for special Hajj.

However, the KPK suspects that there has been a policy change through the issuance of a Minister of Religious Affairs Decree that divides the additional quota into 50 percent for regular hajj and 50 percent for special hajj. The policy was then implemented by easing the mechanism for filling the special hajj quota, which no longer completely refers to the national order number.

In the process, the KPK suspects that there has been a collection of fees from a number of Special Haji Organizers (PIHK) in exchange for the acceleration of the departure of pilgrims. The collection is said to be imposed on prospective special pilgrims with a maximum of 5,000 US dollars per pilgrim in 2023 and 2,000 to 2,500 US dollars per pilgrim in 2024.

From the results of the investigation, Ismail Adhan allegedly gave Ishfah Abidal Azis 30 thousand US dollars and 5,000 US dollars and 16 thousand Saudi riyals to the then Director General of Haji and Umrah Implementation of the Ministry of Religion, Abdul Latief. This act is suspected of making Maktour obtain an illegal profit of around IDR 27.8 billion.

Meanwhile, Asrul Azis Taba allegedly gave money amounting to 406 thousand US dollars. From this gift, eight PIHKs belonging to Kesthuri are said to have obtained illegal profits of up to Rp. 40.8 billion.

The KPK also suspects that some of the funds from the fee collection were prepared to condition the Special Committee (Pansus) for the DPR RI Hajj, which was formed in mid-2024. However, the alleged delivery was not realized due to the rejection of the party that would receive it.

As a result of the alleged actions of the suspects, the state is estimated to have suffered losses of up to IDR 622 billion. The KPK charged the suspects with Article 2 paragraph (1) and/or Article 3 of the Corruption Law in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.