KPK Reveals Alleged Fees Of Up To USD 7,000 Per Special Hajj Quota

Illustration of the pilgrimage in Makkah (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) suspects that there is a fee paid by travel agents or travel agents to get a special hajj quota. This information was obtained in the process of investigating allegations of corruption in quotas and Hajj organizers in 2023-2024 by the Ministry of Religion.

Acting (Plt) Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK Asep Guntur Rahayu said the temporary calculation of the money paid by the travel agent for Hajj and Umrah organizers reached 2,600-7,000 US dollars per quota.

"Is it certain, we are calculating it. But about the range between some, the quota is 2,600 to 7,000 (dollars, ed)," Asep told reporters quoted on Friday, August 15.

Asep said the difference in fee payments was based on travel agent conditions. Companies that are large and have services are more certain to pay a higher price.

In addition, the KPK is also currently exploring whether there is a relationship between the fee and the issuance of a Decree (SK) of the Minister of Religion regarding the distribution of additional hajj quotas from the Saudi Arabian government.

The regulation then became the basis for the distribution of the hajj quota from what should have been in accordance with the 92 percent law for regular Hajj and 8 percent for special Hajj to be divided equally orversus percent.

"So that's why it's different here, yes, there are 2,600 to 7,000 (US Dollar)," said Asep, who also serves as Director of KPK Investigations.

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.