KPK Denies Stopping Investigation Of Alleged Corruption Hajj Quota At Ministry Of Religion: State Losses Are Being Calculated

KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo (Tsa Tsia/VOI)

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has denied stopping the investigation into alleged corruption in quotas and the implementation of Hajj at the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) in 2023-2024.

This was conveyed by KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo when asked about the pretrial submitted by the People's Alliance for Justice and Welfare of Indonesia (Arukki) as well as the Law Enforcement, and Supervisory Agency (LP3HI) regarding the termination of the investigation into the alleged corruption of the hajj quota. The lawsuit was filed at the South Jakarta District Court (PN).

"We make sure there is no termination of the investigation," Budi said in a written statement, Wednesday, November 12.

Instead of stopping it, Budi said, current investigators are focusing on asking for information from travel agents or travel agents who organize special Hajj (PIHK) in a number of areas in the country. "Including the process of calculating the state's losses," he said.

"However, we still respect the pretrial lawsuit as one of the constitutional rights in the formal review of this case."

Previously reported, the KPK is investigating allegations of corruption related to quotas and the implementation of Hajj in 2023-2024 at the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag). No suspects have been named for 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).

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.

Then, checks were also carried out on hundreds of travel agents or travel agents who organize special Hajj (PIHK) and confiscated money from them. However, the anti-corruption commission has not detailed the amount because the calculation is still being carried out by investigators.