KPK Seizes Cellphones To Documents When Searching The House Of Ex-Menag Yaqut Cholil

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

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) confiscated electronic evidence (BBE), including cellphones and documents while searching the house of former Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas in Condet, Jakarta today.

This forced effort was carried out in connection with the investigation of alleged corruption in quotas and the implementation of Hajj by the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) in 2023-2024.

"From the search the team conducted at YCQ's brother's house, the team secured a number of documents and BBE," said KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo to reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Friday, August 15.

Budi said the electronic evidence would then be extracted by investigators to look for clues. That way, the handling of alleged corruption in quotas and the implementation of Hajj can be completed immediately.

"From the evidence, investigators will be extracted to find clues and evidence to support the handling of this case," he said.

"There are various electronic evidences, one of which is cellphones, later they will be extracted, their contents opened, we will see the information they are looking for," continued Budi.

The KPK has conducted a series of searches in several locations. Among them are the offices of the Ministry of Religion, the homes of related parties to travel agents or travel agents for Hajj and Umrah trips.

Searches at the Ministry of Religion and the homes of related parties took place conducively. The parties were cooperative.

From this activity, one unit of four-wheeled vehicles, several property assets, as well as documents and electronic evidence (BBE) related to allegations of corruption in quotas and the implementation of Hajj.

Meanwhile, at the travel agent office, the opposite is true. Investigators suspect that there are parties who are trying to eliminate evidence so that the KPK is considering the application of Article 21 of the Corruption Act related to obstruction of justice or obstruction of investigation.

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, August 9 in the morning.

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.

State losses in the corruption case of quota and Hajj for the period 2023-2024 are said to have reached more than IDR 1 trillion. This amount is still increasing because it is only the initial calculation of the KPK which continues to coordinate with the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK).

During the investigation process, the KPK has summoned a number of parties. Among them Yaqut Cholil Qoumas as the former Minister of Religion (Menag) who has now been prevented from leaving the country for six months.