Corruption Hajj Quota, KPK: Travel Agents With The Most Problems In Java

Acting (Plt) Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK Asep Guntur Rahayu (Tsa Tsia/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) revealed that most travel agents or travel agents who receive special problematic hajj quotas are on the island of Java.

This finding was obtained by the anti-corruption commission when investigating allegations of corruption in quotas and organizing Hajj in 2023-2024 at the Ministry of Religion. Acting (Plt) Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK Asep Guntur said the distribution of travel agents was in the East Java region to Central Java.

"In addition to East Java, there are the most, yes, the closest ones are in West Java. Then in Central Java. Yang (travel agent, red) is big," Asep told reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, quoted Friday, September 26.

Then there are also other areas such as South Sulawesi. However, Asep did not specify the exact number.

He only said that this condition made investigators choose to directly examine witnesses outside the KPK office, such as in East Java.

"Why? Because if you are called here it will also be ineffective if for example a lot. In East Java, for example, there are many if we call here," he said.

In addition, direct inspection in the region also makes it easier for investigators to ask for additional evidence. "(For example, red) whether there is this or not, invoices or what, brochures and others, waduh, sir, go home, it's far away," explained Asep, who also serves as Director of KPK Investigation.

"But if we visit there at once we can ask for the documents that are there," he continued.

It didn't stop there, Asep said, his subordinates could also immediately conduct searches such as an dishonest witness. "So come to that place because of the effectiveness," he said.

For information, investigators from the anti-corruption commission for this week conducted an examination in East Java Province. A number of high-ranking travel agents have been questioned regarding the corruption case of the hajj quota.

Previously reported, the KPK said that allegations of corruption related to quotas and the implementation of Hajj in 2023-2024 at the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) would enter a new chapter. In the near future, the suspects will be determined because of the process that runs using a general investigation warrant (sprindik).

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).

This case stems from the provision of 20,000 additional Hajj quotas from the Saudi Arabian government for Indonesia to reduce queues for 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 based on the Decree (SK) of the Minister of Religion signed by Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.

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.

During the investigation process, a number of parties have been questioned, including Yaqut Cholil Qoumas. Investigators have also searched his house and found documents and electronic evidence that are suspected to be related.