KPK Chairman Claims That The Return Of Corruption Money For Hajj Quota Is Almost IDR 100 Billion

DOK ANTARA

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Setyo Budiyanto revealed that the refund of money related to the alleged corruption of quotas and the implementation of Hajj in 2023-2024 at the Ministry of Religion almost reached Rp100 billion. However, he has not received the exact details.

It is known that a number of associations of special Hajj organizers (PIHK) have returned money to the KPK. Among them are the Alliance of Hajj and Umrah Organizers Azhari Indonesia (Asphuri) and the Association of Umrah and Hajj Organizers (HIMPUH).

"Overall, if hundreds of billions may not, if tens of billions may already be, close to one hundred (billion, ed) there are," Setyo told reporters, Monday, October 6.

In the future, investigators will continue to pursue money and assets related to corruption in the hajj quota that is being handled.

"We will definitely pursue as much as possible, as long as it is informed that there are assets and assets that are moving assets. That is a series of cases, tracing must be carried out as much as possible," said Setyo, who once served as Director of KPK Investigation.

In addition, continued Setyo, investigators also continue to examine witnesses and related parties. He called the process to make this case.

This condition has made the KPK not yet named a suspect in the corruption case of the hajj quota.

"I'm sure there may be more investigators needed to complete the filing or the investigation process, there are no other problems," he said.

Previously reported, the KPK said that allegations of corruption related to quotas and the implementation of Hajj in 2023-2024 at the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) would enter a new chapter. In the near future, the suspects will be determined because of the process that runs using a general investigation warrant (sprindik).

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 number 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 stems from 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 based on the Decree (SK) of the Minister of Religion signed by Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.

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.

During the investigation process, a number of parties have been questioned, including Yaqut Cholil Qoumas. Investigators have also searched his house and found documents and electronic evidence that are suspected to be related.