From East Java To South Kalimantan, 300 Hajj Traveles Have Been Examined By The KPK Regarding Corruption Hajj Quota

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

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has examined hundreds of travel agents or travel agents who organize special Hajj (PIHK).

KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo said this examination was carried out to calculate state financial losses in cases of corruption in quotas and the implementation of Hajj in 2023-2024 at the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag). Travel agents, he said, came from a number of areas, such as East Java, Yogyakarta to South Kalimantan.

"The investigation of this case is still in progress, including the calculation of KN carried out by the Supreme Audit Agency or BPK. So far, more than 300 PIHKs have been questioned for the needs of calculating their KNs," Budi told reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Thursday, October 23.

"(As a result, ed) from various regions such as East Java, Yogyakarta, South Sumatra, Jakarta, South Kalimantan, and several other areas," he continued.

In addition, investigators are also looking for individuals from the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) who are suspected of being splashed in money from the hajj quota corruption. This effort was made by asking for information from Eri Kusmar as Head of the General Section and State Property of the Ministry of Religion.

Budi said Eri was questioned at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta on Thursday, October 23.

"The witness was investigated regarding the flow of money from PIHK to elements at the Ministry of Religion," he said.

Previously reported, the KPK is investigating allegations of corruption related to quotas and the implementation of Hajj in 2023-2024 at the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag). No suspects have been named for 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.