Examination Of The PBNU Chairman In The Hajj Quota Case Is Called The KPK Depending On Investigator Needs

DOK ANTARA

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) revealed that the examination of witnesses in the corruption case of quotas and the implementation of Hajj in 2024-2024 at the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) was not carried out arbitrarily. Investigators will definitely compile a list according to their needs.

This was conveyed by KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo when asked about the opportunity to examine the General Chairperson of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board, Yahya Cholil Staquf.

This religious community organization (ormas) was dragged into the vortex of alleged corruption in the hajj quota for summoning Syaiful Bahri as PBNU staff on Tuesday, September 9.

"Who is the need for an examination, later we will see in the investigation process," said KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo to reporters at the KPK's Red and White building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Monday, September 15.

The witnesses who were summoned, continued Budi, were also confirmed to be related to the evidence already owned by investigators. This is because searches in a number of locations have been carried out, including the house of former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.

"So from the examination of several witnesses that have been carried out, search and confiscation activities, investigators have also confiscated several assets that are suspected to be related or are the result of this alleged corruption crime," 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).

No suspect has been named in this case yet. However, investigators have examined a number of witnesses, including Yaqut Cholil Qoumas as former Minister of Religion during the reign of the 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

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.