KPK Searches Office Regarding Alleged Corruption Of Hajj Quota

KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo. (Tsa Tsia-VOI)

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has again conducted a search related to allegations of corruption in quotas and the implementation of Hajj by the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) in 2023-2024 today, August 14. Forced efforts were carried out around Jakarta.

"The team is conducting another active search at one of the private offices," said KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo to reporters in a written statement, Thursday, August 14.

Budi has not yet detailed the results of the search. He only reminded all parties to cooperate.

"Considering that the search activities as part of the investigation are to find clues and evidence that investigators need to uncover this case," he said.

"Don't let irresponsible parties or there be efforts to eliminate evidence," continued Budi.

As for this case, the anti-corruption commission has searched a number of locations. Among them are the houses and rooms of the Directorate General of Hajj and Umrah (PHU) of the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) on Wednesday, August 13.

From the search of a house in Depok, West Java, a car and assets in the form of property were confiscated. Meanwhile, from the room at the Ministry of Religion's office, documents and electronic evidence were confiscated.

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.

The state losses in the corruption case of quotas and the implementation of Hajj for the 2023-2024 period are said to have reached more than IDR 1 trillion and could increase. This figure arises because the distribution of an additional 20,000 Hajj quota from the Saudi Arabian government is carried out inappropriately, namely 50 percent for regular Hajj and 50 percent for special Hajj.

In fact, based on the law, the quota distribution should be 92 percent for regular and 8 percent for special Hajj.