Yaqut Cholil Qoumas Legal Team Confident State Losses in Hajj Quota Case Not Proven

JAKARTA - The legal team for former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas believes that the element of state financial losses in the alleged corruption case of additional 2023-2024 Hajj quotas has not been proven. This will be the defense material in the first trial at the Corruption Court (Tipikor) Central Jakarta.

"In fact, at the trial, all the construction of the indictment will be tested openly based on evidence, trial facts, and applicable legal provisions," said Yaqut's lawyer, Mellisa Anggraini, to reporters, Monday, August 3.

Mellisa emphasized that her party respected the transfer of case files and indictments by the Public Prosecutor (JPU) of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to the Corruption Court. This stage is called part of the administrative process in the criminal justice system.

However, Mellisa assessed that there were still a number of legal aspects that needed to be further tested before the panel of judges. One of them, concerning the alleged abuse of authority, the element of state financial losses, and the causal relationship between the policies taken and the losses alleged by the public prosecutor.

"In this case there is also a fundamental issue regarding the character of the additional Hajj quota which is an allocation from the Government of Saudi Arabia, as well as the status of the Hajj pilgrims' funds which are not legally part of the State Budget," he said.

Therefore, his party invites all parties to respect the principle of presumption of innocence and provide space for the court to examine the case objectively, independently, and based on legal provisions.

"All of these aspects will certainly be explained and proven comprehensively before the panel of judges," said Mellisa.

The KPK Prosecutor General has handed over the case file and the indictment letter for the alleged corruption of additional Hajj quotas in 2023-2024 to the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court on Friday, July 31. In addition to Yaqut, the transfer was also carried out for the former Special Staff to the Minister of Religion, Ishfah Abidal Aziz alias Gus Alex, Director of Operations Maktour Ismail Adham, and the General Chairman of the Kesthuri Association, who is also Commissioner of PT Raudah Eksati Utama Asrul Azis Taba.

"Today, the KPK prosecutor has handed over the indictment file to the Central Court regarding the alleged corruption case related to the Hajj quota," said KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo in a written statement, Friday, July 31.

With the transfer, the KPK is now waiting for the determination of the panel of judges and the schedule for the first trial.

"The KPK invites the public to continue to monitor the development of the handling of this case, especially since this case directly concerns the livelihood of many people, especially Indonesian prospective pilgrims," concluded Budi.