Lawyer Denies Gus Yaqut's Cellphone Confiscated By KPK During A Search Of The Hajj Corruption Case

Former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, in the KPK investigation related to the Hajj corruption case (VOI/Wardhany Tsa Tsia).

Attorney for the former Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, Mellisa Anggraini, confirmed that her client's cellphone was not confiscated by investigators from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

This was conveyed by Mellisa in response to a statement by the KPK spokesman, Budi Prasetyo, who said that investigators confiscated electronic evidence while searching Yaqut's house in Condet, East Jakarta, on Friday, August 15, 2025.

This forced effort is related to allegations of corruption in quotas and Hajj organizers in 2023-2024 by the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag).

"Regarding the information on the confiscation of electronic evidence, we can confirm that what was confiscated did not belong to Gus Yaqut," Mellisa told reporters in a written statement, Monday, August 18, 2025.

Even so, Mellisa did not want to explain who the cellphone belonged to. He only made sure Yaqut would cooperate in following the legal process being carried out by the KPK.

"He supports and cooperates with the KPK's steps in investigating this case to be clear and clear, including by conducting searches and confiscations," he said.

Budi Prasetyo previously said that investigators confiscated electronic evidence, one of which was a cellphone when searching Yaqut Cholil Qoumas' house. Extraction of these findings will then be carried out to find evidence of alleged corruption in quotas and the implementation of Hajj.

"From the evidence, investigators will be extracted to find clues and evidence to support the handling of this case."

"There are various kinds of electronic evidence, one of which is a cellphone, later it will be extracted, its contents opened, we will see the information sought," Budi told reporters at the KPK's Red and White Building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Friday, August 15, 2025.

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 general sprindik, we are more free to collect evidence and also collect information so that it makes light of a case that we are handling," said Acting Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK, Asep Guntur Rahayu, at a press conference at the KPK's Red and White House, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Saturday, August 9, 2025, in the early hours of the morning.

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 corrupt practice.

State losses in the corruption case of quota and Hajj for the period 2023-2024 are said to have reached more than IDR 1 trillion. This number is still increasing because it is only the initial calculation of the KPK which continues to coordinate with the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK).

During the investigation process, the KPK has summoned a number of parties, including Yaqut Cholil Qoumas as the former Minister of Religion (Menag) who has now been prevented from leaving the country for six months.