KPK Will Summon Former Minister Of Religion Yaqut After Alleged Corruption Of Hajj Quota Goes Up To Investigation

Yaqut Cholil Qoumas/DOK PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) will again summon former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas regarding allegations of corruption in determining quotas and organizing Hajj by the Ministry of Religion. This plan emerged after the case rose to the investigation stage.

"After this increases (investigation, ed), later the person concerned will be recalled," said Acting Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK Asep Guntur Rahayu at a press conference at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Saturday, August 9 in the morning.

Apart from Yaqut, other parties suspected of having information regarding the addition of quotas and the implementation of Hajj will be summoned. However, Asep could not confirm when.

"Of course, in the future, we will also schedule a summons for several parties, including YCQ's brother because yesterday's call, Thursday, is still in the process of being investigated," he said.

The KPK uses a general investigation warrant (sprindik) to investigate allegations of corruption in determining quotas and organizing Hajj services at the Ministry of Religion in 2023-2024. No suspects have been named.

The general Sprindik uses Article 2 Paragraph 1 and/or Article 3 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2021 in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code. This means that there are state losses that occur due to this corrupt practice.

As previously reported, the KPK indicated that the corruption investigation into the implementation of the pilgrimage at the Ministry of Religion would soon enter a new chapter. This allegation was known several times and dragged the name of former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.

This allegation is said to have started with the request for additional Hajj quotas communicated between the Indonesian-Saudi Arabia governments. This step is to reduce the queue of pilgrims.

"This is to shorten it, cut it, the quota must be enlarged, there must be more departing. Well, if I'm not mistaken 20 thousand, yes, 20 thousand," said Acting (Plt) Asep Guntur Rahayu to 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.