Immanuel Ebenezer Follow in the Footsteps of Yaqut Cholil Qoumas Apply for a Change in Status of Detainees

Immanuel or Noel Ebenezer, will apply for a transfer of detention.

JAKARTA - Former Deputy Minister of Manpower (Wamenaker), Immanuel or Noel Ebenezer, will apply for a transfer of detention. This step mimics other prisoners, former Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.

Azis Yanuar, Noel's lawyer, said his client's application was filed after seeing Yaqut, whose status of detention was changed from house arrest to house arrest.

"Yes, one of them (applying after seeing Yaqut as a house prisoner, ed)," Azis Yanuar told reporters quoted on Tuesday, March 24.

Azis said Noel, who is now a defendant in the case of extortion of safety and occupational health (K3) certification at the Ministry of Manpower (Kemenaker), needs medical treatment. He also wants to celebrate Easter in early April.

"Noel according to the doctor from the last examination must take medical action such as a small operation on the head and it must be hospitalized and intensive. Then because of welcoming Easter," he said.

Yaqut has been under house arrest since Thursday, March 19. Meanwhile, the family's request was submitted on March 17 or five days after being detained on Thursday, March 12.

The change in status from prison to house arrest was claimed by the KPK to have been reviewed and in accordance with Article 108 paragraph (1) and (11) of Law Number 20 of 2025 concerning the Criminal Procedure Code.

Article 108 paragraph (11) regulates that the transfer of type of detention can be carried out based on an investigation order which is given to the suspect, the suspect's family, and the interested parties.

As previously reported, Immanuel Ebenezer's wife, Silvia Rinita Harefa, revealed that Yaqut Cholil Qoumas was not at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Detention House (Rutan) since Thursday evening, March 19.

This was conveyed by Silvia after visiting her husband who is currently undergoing trial related to alleged extortion regarding safety and security certification (K3) at the Ministry of Manpower (Kemenaker).

"At first, I didn't see Gus Yaqut. The information said he would leave Thursday night," Silvia told reporters, Saturday, March 21.

Silvia admitted that Noel told him about Yaqut who was unknown. "Everyone knows about it. They just ask, he said there was an examination, but it's impossible that before the night of the prayer there was an examination like that," he said.

"Until today, (former Minister of Foreign Affairs Yaqut, ed) there is none," he continued.

Yaqut was also not seen when the KPK held an Idulfitri prayer for prisoners of Islamic faith on Saturday, March 21. In fact, the former staff, especially, Ishfah Abidal Azis, who is also a suspect in the haj quota corruption case, was seen participating in the worship activity.

Ishfah was observed performing the Idulfitri prayer with other prisoners, namely the non-active Pati Regent Sudewo, the non-active Bekasi Regent Ade Kuswara Kunang, the non-active Lampung Tengah Regent Ardito Wijaya, to the non-active Pekalongan Regent Fadia Arafiq.