Not Present Yesterday, KPK Will Call Khalid Basalamah Again Regarding The Corruption Case Of Hajj Quota

KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo. (Tsa Tsia-VOI)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) plans to recall the lecturer and owner of the Uhud Tour travel agency, Khalid Zeed Abdullah regarding the alleged corruption of quotas and the implementation of Hajj in 2023-2024 to the Ministry of Religion. This is because he did not fulfill the summons on Tuesday, September 2.

"Later, there will definitely be a reschedule if information or information from the person concerned is included," said KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo to reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Wednesday, September 3.

Budi said Khalid did not answer the call because there was an activity. He also has not detailed what investigators will investigate.

However, the current anti-corruption commission is examining a number of travel agents or travel agents to explore several things. Among them are about information on special hajj candidates who can immediately leave without having to queue.

They allegedly took advantage of 20,000 additional hajj quotas in 2023-2024 from the Saudi Arabian government which became problematic.

This deepening was carried out by examining Achmad Ruhyudin as the 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 on Monday, September 1.

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.