JAKARTA - Former Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas fulfilled the call of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) today. He will be questioned as a witness even though he is a suspect in the corruption case of determining quotas and organizing the 2023-2024 hajj at the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag).
From field observation, Yaqut arrived at the KPK Red and White building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta at around 13.15 WIB accompanied by his lawyer and a number of people. He appeared to be wearing a white shirt and his head was covered with a black turban.
"Yes, I was called as a witness to give information about my brother Ishfah (former staff, especially who was also a suspect in Ishfah Abidal Azis alias Gus Alex)," Yaqut told reporters.
He admitted that he did not know the examination materials that would be investigated by investigators. Meanwhile, when asked about his status as a suspect, Yaqut chose to be quiet.
"I won't give any response. Excuse me, it's time (examination, ed), it's not nice for us," he said while splitting the crowd of reporters who had been waiting for him at the location.
Meanwhile, KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo said Yaqut would be questioned in order to complete the calculation of state losses.
"This week the KPK has also summoned other witnesses to be questioned," he said.
"Among them, regarding the calculation of state financial losses, with an audit conducted by the BPK auditor," he explained.
As for calculating state losses, the KPK has examined Maktour Travel boss Fuad Hasan Masyhur and special staff of the former Minister of Religion Ishfah Abidal Aziz alias Gus Alex on Monday, January 26.
Ishfah was even called back on Thursday, January 29. The former stafsus was also appointed with Yaqut.
As previously reported, the KPK has announced two suspects in the corruption case for determining quotas and organizing the 2023-2024 Hajj period at the Ministry of Religion. They are former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and staff in particular, Ishfah Abidal Aziz alias Gus Alex.
The determination of the suspect was made later, because the KPK investigated the alleged corruption by using a general investigation order (sprindik) issued on August 7, 2025.
The Sprindik general uses Article 2 Paragraph 1 and/or Article 3 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2021 jo article 55 paragraph 1-1 of the Criminal Code. This means that there is state loss that occurs due to this corrupt practice.
The KPK said that the state's losses in the 2023-2024 quota and Hajj management corruption cases were said to have reached more than Rp. 1 trillion. The suspicion began with the provision of 20,000 additional Hajj quotas from the Saudi Arabian government for Indonesia to reduce the queue of pilgrims.
However, recently 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, according to the law, the distribution should be 92 percent for regular hajj and 8 percent for special hajj.
During the course of this case, a number of parties have been examined. Among them are former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas to travel agents or travel agents who organize special hajj (PIHK), including Fuad Hasan Masyhur as the boss of Maktour.
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