Fuad Masyhur's role in the Hajj Quota is being investigated by the Prosecutor, this is what the KPK said about the potential suspect

JAKARTA - The accusation of Yaqut Cholil Qoumas as Minister of Religion (Menag) has fully dismantled the maneuver of the owner of PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour) Fuad Hasan Masyhur (FHM) to get an additional 2023-2024 Hajj quota allocation.

In the indictment of Yaqut, Fuad was said to be the sole party who tried to make the Indonesian government get additional Hajj quotas from Saudi Arabia.

It turns out, not without reason, Fuad made this effort. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) also revealed Fuad's purpose.

"So in the course of the investigation, the person concerned has also been summoned for questioning. Including how the roles of the person concerned as the owner of MT and also the Chairman of the Association," said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo at a press conference at the Corruption Court (Tipikor) Jakarta, Tuesday, August 11.

The KPK suspects Fuad has an interest in obtaining greater profits from additional special hajj quotas. The motive was then linked by the KPK to the change in the composition of the 2024 additional hajj quota from the usual 92 percent for regular hajj and 8 percent for special hajj to 50:50.

Budi also ensured that the KPK investigators had not stopped tracing Fuad's role in this additional Hajj quota corruption case.

According to him, the construction of the allocation of additional Hajj quotas in 2024 cannot be separated from the allocation of additional quotas in 2023.

In 2023, Indonesia obtained an additional quota of 8,000 pilgrims. The quota was then divided according to the provisions, namely 92 percent for regular hajj and 8 percent for special hajj.

But then, in 2024, the division of the additional Hajj quota percentage was actually changed from 50:50. The change was inseparable from Fuad's role.

"Then from the management or filling of the special hajj quota, these PIHKs then in 2024 take the initiative, yes, there is a motive to be able to get even greater profits with the addition of 20,000 special hajj quotas," said Budi.

The KPK suspects that the motive for obtaining greater profits then prompted a change in the composition of the additional quota in 2024.

Of the total additional 20,000 quotas, 10,000 pilgrims were allocated for regular hajj and the other 10,000 for special hajj.

"So, on the basis of this motive, which was then carried out by the Ministry of Religion, the distribution of additional Hajj quotas was not in accordance with legal provisions," said Budi.

KPK is still investigating the flow of money.

Budi also revealed that investigators were still investigating the alleged flow of money related to the management of the special hajj quota.

According to him, the construction of the case will later outline the process starting from the provision of additional quotas by the Government of Saudi Arabia to Indonesia, changes in the composition of the quota, to its distribution to PIHK.

"How do the PIHK fill or buy and sell quotas to prospective pilgrims," said Budi.

From the process, the KPK suspects that there is illegal gain obtained by the PIHK.

The KPK has even confiscated money that is said to come from the profits with a value of more than Rp100 billion.

"Up to the alleged flow of money from the PIHK who benefit from filling the special hajj quota, or in this case we call it illegal gain," said Budi.

"Where the illegal gains obtained by the PIHK, the investigators have also confiscated a number of more than Rp100 billion," he continued.

Fuad Has the Chance to Be a Suspect?

Fuad's name had previously appeared in the indictment for the alleged corruption case of the haj quota that ensnared former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.

However, Fuad has not been named a suspect in the case.

The KPK ensured that investigators were still investigating Fuad's role and motives, including his involvement in the process of changing the allocation of additional Hajj quotas.

Budi said the legal process did not stop at the parties who had become defendants at this time.

"This means how the construction of this case is intact, how the role of each party starts from the Ministry of Religion, then the association, and also the PIHK, all of them will be presented," said Budi.

Thus, the possibility of other parties being held criminally responsible is still open, including if the results of the investigation later find sufficient evidence related to Fuad's role in the case.

The KPK stated that the complete construction of the case would be presented in the trial process, including the reason for the quota change to 50:50 and the alleged flow of money from PIHK which obtained profits from filling the special hajj quota.

In the indictment letter of Yaqut, the names of PIHKs who received illegal profits or illegal gains from the management of additional Hajj quotas were also presented. One of his PIHKs is PT Maktour with a value of Rp. 27.8 billion.