KPK Will Summon Former Minister Of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas This Thursday Regarding Hajj Corruption Investigation

Yaqut Cholil Qoumas/DOK personal Instagram

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is rumored to be summoning former Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas on Thursday, August 7. He will be questioned regarding the alleged corruption in the implementation of the Hajj which is still under investigation.

A VOI source said Yaqut would be asked to attend the KPK's Red and White building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta. Meanwhile, when confirmed, KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo did not answer clearly about the summons.

He only said anyone would be questioned if deemed necessary.

"KPK is open to summoning and asking for information from anyone, of course, if it is needed in the process of investigating this case. Of course, summons will be carried out as soon as possible," he told reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Tuesday, August 5.

The KPK has also asked for information from three Ministry of Religion employees (Kemenag) regarding the investigation into alleged corruption in the implementation of the Hajj on Monday, August 4. Those who were clarified had the initials RFA, MAS, and AM.

However, the material being investigated was not detailed because the investigation was closed.

As previously reported, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has signaled an investigation into corruption in organizing the Hajj at the Ministry of Religion soon entering a new chapter. This allegation is known to have been reported several times and dragged the name of former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.

The Acting Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK Asep Guntur Rahayu said this allegation stemmed from the request for additional Hajj quotas communicated between the Indonesian-Saudi Arabia governments. This step is to reduce the queue for pilgrims.

"This is to shorten, cut it, the quota must be enlarged, there must be more departing. Well, if I'm not mistaken 20 thousand, yes, 20 thousand," Asep told reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, quoted Friday, July 25.

The addition of quotas from the Saudi Arabian government was problematic. "There are rules that the quota is 8 and 92. If I'm not mistaken, please correct me, 8 percent for special Hajj and 92 percent for regularity," he said.

"But then it turned out to be divided into two, good luck like that," continued Asep.

This condition is then suspected to have made other parties benefit. In the search, continued Asep, investigators are still asking for information in stages, starting from Hajj organizers at the Ministry of Religion to travel agents or travel agents.

Investigators are then expected to call the highest peak at the Ministry of Religion or the Minister of Religion at that time, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas. "We start with the organizers," said Asep.

"The organizers, ..., travel, yes. One of them was also yesterday checked here, the owner of the travel. That's why the final recipient of the quota before the community then used it," explained the Director of Investigation of the KPK.