Corruption Investigation Of Hajj Quota Called KPK Does Not Lead To Religious Organizations

KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo (Photo: KPK)

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said that the alleged corruption in quotas and the implementation of Hajj in 2023-2024 did not target certain religious institutions or community organizations (ormas).

The statement was made by the KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo straightening out the news that stated that his institution seemed to target religious institutions or mass organizations in the case of corruption in the hajj quota.

"In investigating this case, the KPK focuses on exploring the roles of individuals suspected of being involved in the distribution of additional hajj quotas in organizing the pilgrimage in 2023-2024," Budi told reporters in a written statement, Saturday, September 20.

Budi ensured that investigators focused on finding individuals who must be legally responsible. "Throughout the investigation to this day, there is no direction for certain institutions or community organizations," he said.

As for this case, the KPK has asked for information from the Deputy Secretary General of the Central Executive of the Youth Movement, Ansor Syarif Hamzah Asyathry. He is suspected of knowing the flow of money related to this case being handled.

Investigators also questioned Syarif regarding evidence that was secured from the house of former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, namely documents and electronic evidence (BBE).

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 such as searches, confiscations and witness examinations.

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 the queues of 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.