KPK Will Call Former Minister Of Religion Yaqut To Maktour Boss After Looking For Evidence In Saudi Arabia

Acting Deputy For Enforcement And Execution Of The KPK Asep Guntur Rahayu/PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said a number of parties related to the alleged corruption determination of quotas and the implementation of the 2023-2024 Hajj pilgrimage at the Ministry of Religion would be summoned again for questioning.

Among them were former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas to Fuad Hasan Masyhur as the owner of Maktour Travel which had been prevented from leaving the country.

Acting (Plt) Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK Asep Guntur Rahayu said this summons would be made after investigators returned from Saudi Arabia.

"Of course, as far as we get the information from, the team is in Saudi Arabia, going home then there are things that need to be confirmed again to the chairman of the association and to others, of course we will call them," Asep told reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Friday, December 5.

Asep said investigators are currently in Saudi Arabia. There, there are a number of things that have been checked, such as accommodation and he has received his report.

"So we will prove or will look for information whether the facilities there are really available," he said.

"Because we have an understanding that when a country, in this case Saudi Arabia, provides a quota, it is definitely ready with its facilities," continued Asep, who also serves as Director of KPK Investigations.

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).

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.

Then, checks were also carried out on hundreds of travel agents or travel agents who organize special Hajj (PIHK) and confiscated money from them. However, the KPK has not detailed the amount because the calculation is still being carried out by investigators.