Alih Status Tahanan Eks Menag Yaqut Cholil Qoumas Diputus KPK Lewat Rapat Pimpinan

Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK Asep Guntur Rahayu/PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said that various considerations regarding the transfer of the status of detention of former Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas were discussed through a meeting with the leadership.

This was conveyed by the Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK, Asep Guntur Rahayu, when asked about the many criticisms received by his agency after the transfer of Yaqut's status as a prisoner. He explained that this consideration was taken after a request from the family of the suspect in the corruption case of determining the quota and the implementation of the 2023-2024 hajj.

"Regarding the request, of course, it has been what it is called, a meeting or exposure, yes, so it is not a personal decision," Asep told reporters at the KPK's Red and White building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Thursday, March 26.

"So it is the decision of the institution," he continued.

Asep said there were a number of considerations discussed through the meeting. "First is the legal norm, whether there is a legal norm or not," said the former KPK Investigation Director.

"Furthermore, it was also considered, considered in relation to the problem of impacts and others," continued Asep.

Furthermore, Asep also explained the strategy related to handling cases was also discussed in the meeting. Therefore, he denied that there was a decision made in a dark room because there was interference from other parties.

"So far there has been no (intervention, ed) because it is not hidden either. We have given notice to the parties who, according to the law, must receive notice," he said.

Yaqut is known to have been under house arrest since Thursday, March 19. The transfer of the detention status was carried out after there was a request from the family on March 17 or five days after the detention on Thursday, March 12.

This incident then became a controversy in the community. A number of parties, including former investigators, highlighted the KPK's attitude because the change of the status of detention was the first time it was carried out.

Meanwhile, the KPK said that the change in status from prison detention 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, former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas is a suspect in the corruption case for determining quotas and organizing the 2023-2024 Hajj pilgrimage at the Ministry of Religion together with staff, especially Ishfah Abidal Azis alias Gus Alex. This alleged corruption began with the granting of 20,000 additional Hajj quotas from the Saudi Arabian government to Indonesia in 2023-2024.

Based on Law Number 8 of 2019 concerning the Implementation of the Hajj and Umrah and the results of the agreement of the Panja Meeting of Commission VIII of the DPR RI, the special hajj quota should be set at 8 percent of the total quota, while the remaining 92 percent is intended for regular hajj.

However, Yaqut as the Minister of Religion at that time allegedly unilaterally changed its composition. Using the maneuver of issuing the Minister of Religion Decree (KMA) which was not disseminated transparently, he divided the additional Hajj quota into a 50 percent scheme for regular Hajj and 50 percent for special Hajj.

Meanwhile, Ishfah Abidal Aziz implemented the policy by easing the rules for special hajj pilgrims.

Ishfah is suspected of arranging the filling of the remaining special hajj quota to be handed over to the proposed Special Hajj Service (PIHK) or travel agents. In fact, there should be an order of departure according to the national order number according to the law.

In return for these accelerated facilities, Gus Alex instructed his subordinates to collect illegal levies or fees from travel parties, which were ultimately charged to prospective special pilgrims. In 2023, the amount of fees set at USD5,000 or around Rp84.4 million per pilgrim.

Meanwhile, in the 2024 Hajj, the collection rate was agreed at least USD2,000 to USD2,500 per pilgrim.

The billions of rupiah from the collection of fees are suspected to have flowed into the pockets of Gus Yaqut, Gus Alex, and a number of other officials in the Ministry of Religion.

Then there is an allegation that some of the funds were deliberately prepared and used to condition the Special Hajj Committee (Pansus) which was formed by the DPR in mid-2024. However, a refusal was given so that no transfer by intermediaries would occur.

As a result of the actions of the two, the state is said to have lost up to IDR 622 billion. They were then suspected of violating Article 2 (1) and or Article 3 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 jo Article 55 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.