KPK Calls State Losses Due To Alleged Corruption Of Hajj Quota More Than IDR 1 Trillion

KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo/PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said that state losses due to alleged corruption in the additional hajj quota in 2023-2024 reached more than IDR 1 trillion.

This figure is still an initial finding and can increase. KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo said the calculation was carried out internally which was also discussed with the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK).

"The KPK's internal expectations have also been discussed with friends at the BPK. However, it is still preliminary, of course, the BPK will calculate in more detail," Budi told reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Monday, August 11.

"So, the figure obtained from the initial count is more than Rp. 1 trillion," he continued.

Budi said that his party would explore the distribution of an additional 20,000 hajj quota that did not comply with the rules.

Instead of being divided into two, Article 64 paragraph 2 of Law Number 8 of 2019 concerning the Implementation of Hajj and Umrah should have a special hajj quota set at only 8 percent.

The special hajj quota consists of special pilgrims and special hajj officers. While the rest or 92 percent is intended for regular hajj quotas.

"There is a shift from what should be 92 percent for regular Hajj, 8 percent for special Hajj, because there is a shift to 50:50 or 10,000:10,000 of course there is a shift there," explained Budi.

"Here, investigators will explore the orders to determine the quota and also the flow of money, of course, because what these agents manage, we will see if there is a flow of money to certain parties. If there are certain parties, everything will be traced by the KPK," he continued.

Previously reported, the KPK has issued a general investigation warrant (sprindik) for alleged corruption in the addition of quotas and the implementation of Hajj. This institution reasoned that the issuance was carried out so that they could make forced efforts.

"With this public sprindik, we are more free to collect evidence and also collect information so that it makes light of a case that we are currently handling," 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 morning, August 9.

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.