Former Minister Of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas Prevented From Going Abroad Regarding Alleged Corruption Of Hajj Quota

Former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas at the KPK Building, Jakarta (Tsa Tsia/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has proposed prevention abroad of three people related to allegations of corruption in quotas and the implementation of Hajj in 2023-2024 at the Ministry of Religion. One of them is former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.

"The KPK has issued a Decree on the Prohibition of Traveling Abroad on 3 people, namely YCQ, IAA and FHM," said KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo to reporters in a written statement, Tuesday, August 12.

The initials of IAA are Ishfah Abidal Aziz as special staff (stafsus) Yaqut when he served as Minister of Religion. He also served as Supervisory Board of the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH) and

Budi said the application for a ban on traveling to the Directorate General of Immigration was made on Monday, August 11. This decision was taken to facilitate ongoing investigations.

"The KPK has taken action against traveling abroad because the existence of the person concerned in Indonesian territory is needed in the context of the investigation process for alleged corruption crimes," he said.

Yaqut and two other people will be prevented for six months. However, an extension can be made if investigators feel necessary.

"This decision applies for the next six months," said Budi.

Previously reported, the KPK has issued a general investigation warrant (sprindik) for alleged corruption in the addition of quotas and the implementation of Hajj. This institution reasoned that the issuance was carried out so that they could make forced efforts.

"With this public sprindik, we are more free to collect evidence and also collect information so that it makes light of a case that we are currently handling," said Acting Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK Asep Guntur Rahayu at a press conference at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Saturday morning, August 9.

The general Sprindik uses Article 2 Paragraph 1 and/or Article 3 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2021 in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code. This means that there are state losses that occur due to this rasuah practice.

The state losses in the corruption case of quotas and the implementation of Hajj for the period 2023-2024 are said to have reached more than IDR 1 trillion. This amount but still increases because it is only the initial calculation of the KPK that continues to coordinate with the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) of the Republic of Indonesia.