Facilitate Investigation Of Alleged Corruption Hajj Quota So The Reason Former Minister Of Religion Yaqut Was Prevented From Going Abroad

Yaqut Cholil Qoumas. (Tsa Tsia-VOI)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has submitted prevention abroad to the Directorate General of Immigration of three people, one of the former Ministers of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.

KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo said the prevention was because the statements of the three were needed to investigate allegations of corruption in the 2023-2024 hajj quota at the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag). They are expected to be in Indonesia when they will be summoned by investigators.

"The KPK has carried out the prohibition of traveling abroad because the existence of the person concerned in Indonesian territory is needed in the context of the investigation process," Budi told reporters in a written statement, Tuesday, August 12.

Budi then mentioned that apart from Yaqut, two other people had the initials IAA and FHM.

As for the information gathered, the IAA was Ishfah Abidal Aziz as special staff (stafsus) Yaqut when he served as Minister of Religion. He also served as the Supervisory Board of the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH).

The KPK has proposed a travel ban for the three since last Monday, August 11. "The decision applies for the next six months," said Budi.

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 rasuah practice.

In this case, the KPK said state losses reached more than Rp1 trillion. This amount is still increasing because it is only the initial calculation of the KPK that continues to coordinate with the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) of the Republic of Indonesia.