JAKARTA - Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK, Asep Guntur Rahayu, apologized for the commotion caused by the transfer of the status of detention of former Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.
This was conveyed by Asep when explaining the issue of the transfer of Yaqut's detention status, who is a suspect in the corruption case of determining quotas and the implementation of the 2023-2024 hajj. He first thanked the public for their support.
"In addition to expressing our deepest gratitude to the Indonesian people for supporting us through their support and comments to us, we also certainly ask for forgiveness for the noise on this Eid," Asep told reporters at the KPK's Red and White building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, quoted Friday, March 27.
Asep then explained that the decision to change Yaqut's detention status was taken through a leadership meeting (rapim). This activity was held after the KPK received a request from the family.
"Regarding the request, of course, a meeting or exposure has been carried out," said Asep, who also served as the KPK's Director of Investigation.
"So it's not a personal decision. It's a decision of the institution," he continued.
In the rapim, Asep, who was also a participant, said that there were a number of discussions. "First is the legal norm. Is there a legal norm or not (related to the transfer of prisoner status, ed)," he explained.
Next, another thing to consider is the impact. "Then it is also considered in relation to the strategy for handling this case itself," said Asep.
He also ensured that his party did not secretly agree to the decision to change Yaqut's status as a prisoner. "Because the parties who according to the law must receive notification have been given notification," he said.
Furthermore, Asep ensured that his agency would continue to seek public support. Moreover, the case of corruption in the haj quota has made rapid progress in the investigation process.
Even so, he still closed the meeting because official information will be conveyed through a press conference to be held next week. "There are a lot of suggestions and input, which means that the public cares about us, cares about the time of handling this case so that it provides a very large moral support for us to continue to handle this case well and accelerate it."
"The KPK leadership should give an explanation.
Until now, the KPK leadership has never appeared in public to provide an explanation regarding the controversy over the transfer of Yaqut's status as a prisoner. In fact, the former KPK investigator, Praswad Nugraha, had urged Setyo Budiyanto as the Chairman of the KPK together with Fitroh Rohcahyanto, Johanis Tanak, Agus Joko Pramono, and Ibnu Basuki Widodo as Deputy Chairman of the KPK to appear to explain the problem.
This demand was made after KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo stated that the change in Yaqut's status as a detainee was a decision by investigators. Praswad assessed that this statement seemed to throw blame at the level of investigators as field officers instead of explaining the case.
"The KPK leadership must come forward as knights to answer this public question as brightly as possible, whether it is true that in this era Koruptor can enjoy house arrest," Praswad told reporters, Sunday, March 22.
In addition, Praswad asked the KPK leadership to be able to point out the nose of the party suspected of intervening in the transfer of Yaqut's detention status. Because, this controversy is considered a drama that has only happened for the first time after the anti-corruption commission was established.
"If there is political pressure on the KPK, point out who the person is, let's bring it to the light room. Let the person concerned be held directly accountable in public," he said.
"Don't give the opportunity for negotiations in a dark room to destroy the system that has been built with great difficulty since the KPK was established."
As previously reported, former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas had been under house arrest since Thursday, March 19. The transfer of the status of detention was carried out after there was a request from the family on March 17 or five days after the detention on Thursday, March 12.
The KPK claims that the change in status from prison detention to house arrest has been reviewed and is 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.
After the polemics, the KPK then re-detained Yaqut at the Red and White KPK Branch Detention Center on Tuesday, March 24. This process was initiated by a health examination first at Bhayangkara Hospital Tk. I. R. Said Sukanto, East Jakarta on Monday, March 23.
Yaqut is known to be 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 provision 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, Yaqut then divided the additional Hajj quota into a scheme of 50 percent for regular Hajj and 50 percent for special Hajj.
Meanwhile, Ishfah Abidal Aziz implemented the policy by easing the rules for special hajj pilgrims.
He arranged for 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.
Then, 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 RI 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.
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