Khalid Basalamah And Witnesses In The Corruption Case Of Hajj Quota Will Be Cross-Checked By The KPK

Khalid Basalamah is a witness to the corruption case in quotas and the implementation of Hajj in 2023-2024 at the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag). (Tsa Tsia-VOI)

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said investigators did not just believe in the testimony of witnesses in the corruption case of quotas and the implementation of Hajj in 2023-2024 at the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag).

Cross-checks or cross-checks will be carried out on any information received. Including the testimony of preacher Khalid Zeed Abdullah or Khalid Basalamah who was questioned on Tuesday, September 9.

This was conveyed by the KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo who initially explained that Khalid Basalamah was summoned in his capacity not as a congregation or preacher. This summons is because he is the owner of the Uhud Tour who dispatches pilgrims with a special problematic hajj quota.

"Well, from the examination, of course, we will also explore how the buying and selling process (a special hajj quota, ed), how the process of getting the special hajj quota, well, everything is explored," Budi told reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Tuesday, September 16.

Apart from Khalid, the KPK has also asked other parties for information regarding the sale and purchase of special hajj quotas originating from an additional 20,000 rations from the Saudi Arabian government. For example, such as travel agents or travel agents of Hajj and Umrah as well as the underprivileged association.

"Well, this will complement each other later. In investigating this case, the KPK will not only conduct examinations of KB's brother witnesses, but the KPK will also conduct examinations both to travel agencies and associations, yes, so that later we can see from various sides, "said Budi.

"We will check whether the statements submitted are complete. That's why this is a chain of information, a chain of information from witnesses and is equipped with other evidence obtained from, for example, searches," he continued.

Khalid Basalamah admitted that he was examined by the KPK as a witness because he left as a congregation along with hundreds of other people. He had admitted that along with hundreds of other people, he would initially leave using a furodic Hajj visa.

However, he shifted to a special pilgrimage whose quota turned out to be problematic because he received an offer from Ibnu Masud who is a Commissioner of PT Muhibbah Mulia Wisata. Khalid also claimed that Uhud Tour could not dispatch pilgrims because it was not a travel agent or travel agent for special Hajj organizers (PIHK).

"The language is Ibnu Masud to us, PT Muhibbah (can, red) an additional quota of 20,000 from the Ministry of Religion. Because we received an official discussion from the Ministry of Religion and I was registered as a congregation at PT Muhibbah," he told reporters after undergoing examination.

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 such as searches, confiscations and witness examinations.

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 the queues of pilgrims. However, 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.

Later, the distribution of problems was allegedly due to money from the Hajj and Umrah travel parties as well as the associations that oversee the Ministry of Religion. After getting the allotment, they sold the additional quota to prospective pilgrims.