KPK Calls Prosecutor Khalid Basalamah Returning Money Related To Alleged Corruption Of Hajj Quota

KPK Chairman Setyo Budiyanto/DOK PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) confirmed that the preacher who is also the owner of Uhud Tour, Khalid Zeed Abdullah or Khalid Basalamah returned a sum of money related to the alleged corruption of quotas and the implementation of Hajj in 2023-2024 at the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag).

Khalid is known to have been examined as a witness in this case on Tuesday, September 9. At that time, he admitted to shifting the Hajj visa for his congregation from furoda to a special pilgrimage whose quota turned out to be problematic because he got an offer from someone.

"It's true (there is a refund, ed)," said KPK Chairman Setyo Budiyanto when confirmed, Monday, September 15.

Even so, Setyo could not specify how much money Khalid had made. "The amount has not been verified," he said.

Khalid said that his congregation usually goes using a furoda Hajj visa. However, he diverted the departure by using a special hajj quota after receiving an offer from Ibnu Mas'ud who is a Commissioner of PT Muhibbah Mulia Wisata.

Khalid admitted that he did not know that this special hajj quota was then problematic and the case was handled by the KPK.

"The language is Ibnu Masud to us, PT Muhibbah (can, red) an additional quota of 20,000 from the Ministry of Religion. Because we received an official discussion from the Ministry of Religion and I was registered as a congregation at PT Muhibbah," said the preacher at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Tuesday, September 9.

This information will then be investigated by the KPK. KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo said the reason for the shift in the departure of Khalid pilgrims was being investigated.

"The confession from the person concerned is also related to initially using a furoda and then shifting to special Hajj, well, it is also explored including the acquisition of the quota, whether from the travel agency or using other travel agencies," said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to reporters quoted on Friday, September 12.

In addition, investigators are also exploring whether or not there is an additional hajj quota enjoyed by Uhud Tour. Budi said Khalid's statement was needed to prove the sale and purchase of special hajj quotas.

The sale and purchase of the quota began when Indonesia received an additional 20,000 quotas from the government of Saudi Arabia. This gift aims to break down the queues of pilgrims.

"Well, that's also part of the sale and purchase of quotas that are the investigative material investigated by investigators," he said.

Previously reported, the KPK has issued a general investigation warrant (sprindik) for alleged corruption in the addition of quotas and the implementation of Hajj in 2023-2024. This institution reasoned that the issuance was carried out so that they could make forced efforts.

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).

This case began with the provision of 20,000 additional Hajj quotas from the Saudi Arabian government for Indonesia to reduce queues for pilgrims. However, the distribution turned out to be problematic because it was divided equally, namely 50 percent for regular Hajj and 50 percent for special Hajj.

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

Later, the distribution of problems was allegedly due to money from the Hajj and Umrah travel parties as well as the associations that oversee the Ministry of Religion. After getting the allotment, they sold the additional quota to prospective pilgrims.