KPK Searches Information For Prospective Hajj Pilgrims Immediately Departs For The Holy Land Without Queuing

The Jakarta Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Building (doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is investigating information on special hajj candidates who can immediately leave without needing to queue. They are suspected of using 20,000 additional hajj quotas in 2023-2024 from the Saudi Arabian government which became problematic.

KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo said this allegation was investigated by examining four witnesses on Monday, September 1. They are Achmad Ruhyudin as financial staff of the Mutiara Haji Association; Arie Prasetyo who is the Manager of Uhud Tour; Asrul Azis Taba as General Chair of Kesthuri and Commissioner of PT Raudah Eksati Utama; and Eris Herlambang as PT Anugerah Citra Mulia.

"Investigated related to the process of getting additional Hajj quotas and examined by special Hajj candidates who can leave, who have just registered without having to queue," Budi told reporters in a written statement, Wednesday, September 3.

All of these witnesses, continued Budi, were questioned at the KPK's Red and White building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta. In addition to the four witnesses, investigators also examined the former Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and explored the distribution of problematic hajj quotas.

"The witness is explored how the process and arguments related to the distribution of an additional quota of 20,000 divided by 50:50," he said.

Previously reported, the KPK has issued a general investigation warrant (sprindik) for alleged corruption in the addition of quotas and the implementation of Hajj in 2023-2024. This institution reasoned that the issuance was carried out so that they could make forced efforts.

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 amount is still increasing because it is only the initial calculation of the KPK which continues to coordinate with the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK).

This case began with the provision of 20,000 additional Hajj quotas from the Saudi Arabian government for Indonesia to reduce queues for pilgrims.

However, recently the distribution turned out to be problematic because it was divided equally, namely 50 percent for regular Hajj and 50 percent for special Hajj.

In fact, based on the law, the distribution should be 92 percent for regular Hajj and 8 percent for special Hajj.