JAKARTA - The legal status of former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas is in the spotlight, after he was known to be under house arrest two days before Eid al-Fitr.
The uproar over Yaqut Cholil's status, which has now changed to house arrest, began with the confession of the wife of former Deputy Minister of Manpower Immanuel Ebenezer Gerungan, Silvia Rinita Harefa. After visiting her husband on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr on March 21, to journalists, Silvia said there was information circulating among the prisoners about not seeing Yaqut at the state detention house or prison.
"Actually, I didn't see Gus Yaqut. The information was that he said he would leave Thursday (19/3) night," said Silvia.
He also admitted that he had received information that Yaqut was not seen during the Eid al-Fitr prayers. According to him, this is known to all prisoners, and for this reason he advised journalists to verify this information.
Silvia's confession clearly made the public uproar. When confirmed, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) explained that the suspect in the alleged corruption case of the Hajj quota, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, was a house arrest not because of illness, but because of a request from the family that the suspect was transferred to a different type of detention on March 17, 2026.
KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo announced that Yaqut Cholil had officially been under house arrest since March 19, 2026, for a temporary period. He also ensured that the KPK would continue to carry out surveillance and security for Yaqut after the person concerned was under house arrest for a temporary period.
"We ensure that the process of transferring detention for a temporary period is in accordance with the provisions and procedures for investigation and detention of a suspect. Likewise, the handling of this case will continue to run in accordance with the applicable legal provisions," he said.
Previously, the KPK decided to make Yaqut a suspect along with the former Special Staff to the Minister of Religion, Isha Abidal Aziz alias Gus Alex, for the alleged corruption case of the haj quota and the implementation of the haj which caused losses to the state treasury of around Rp. 622 billion.
Yaqut is suspected of violating Article 2 paragraph (1) and or Article 2 of Law No. 31 of 1999 Jo. Article 18 of Law No. 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption Crimes as amended by Law No. 20 of 2001 concerning Changes to Law No. 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption Crimes Jo. Article 55 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code. The KPK then detained the suspect Yaqut for the first 20 days starting from March 12 to 31, 2026.
However, the change in the status of detention for the suspect Yaqut has drawn sharp criticism. Head of the Legal and Investigation Division of Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) Wana Alamsyah urged the KPK to provide a transparent explanation regarding the reason why Yqut was transferred from the KPK detention center to house arrest. According to Wana, this is a form of privilege given by the KPK to corruption suspects.
Because, based on ICW's records, the transfer of detention carried out by the KPK is quite strict, one of which is for health reasons.
"In addition, this will be a bad precedent for eradicating corruption in Indonesia. The suspect has the potential to damage and destroy evidence, or influence witnesses while being under house arrest," said Wana in a statement received by VOI.
On the same occasion, Wanamenyebut the KPK Supervisory Board must conduct an examination of the KPK leadership who are suspected of knowing and giving approval to move Yaqut from the detention center to house arrest.
MAKI's sarcasmMeanwhile, the Coordinator of the Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society (MAKI) Boyamin Saiman said this incident was a negative history for the KPK. Since its establishment in 2003, the KPK is known to be very strict in matters of detaining corruption suspects.
However, the emergence of the incident of transferring Yaqut's detention is considered an unprecedented anomaly in the last two decades. Boyamin even gave a harsh sarcasm, saying that the KPK deserved "appreciation" from the Indonesian Record Museum (MURI) for the unusual action.
"Congratulations to the KPK who have broken a record and deserve to enter MURI because since its establishment in 2003 it has never carried out a transfer of detention," he said, quoting as reported by Antara.
This action, said Boyamin, not only hurt the spirit of eradicating corruption in Indonesia, but also disappointed the public. Especially because the KPK was not open from the beginning about the change in the legal status. The public only learned this information from outside parties, because there was no official announcement regarding the transfer of the detention.
"If it is not leaked by his wife, Noelkangak will be found out. Meanwhile, the KPK in the law is the principle of openness," said Boyamin.
This condition is feared to create a bad precedent for law enforcement in the future. If a suspect receives special treatment, it is not impossible that other suspects will demand the same rights, which in the end could undermine the KPK's authority.
"Later, other prisoners also asked for a transfer of detention or detention outside or detention at home or detention in the city or whatever," Boyamin added.
According to him, the KPK needs to annul the decision by returning Yaqut Cholil Qoumas to the detention cell in order to maintain the integrity of the legal system.
"The KPK must correct itself by re-detaining so that the public is not disappointed because this will damage the system and also damage the eradication of corruption itself," he said.
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