[BREAKING NEWS] KPK Names Yaqut Cholil Qoumas as Suspect in Hajj Quota Corruption Case

Yaqut Cholil Qoumas who served as Minister of Religion in the 2020-2024 era. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is reported to have named the former Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas or YCQ as a suspect in the corruption case of determining quotas and organizing the 2023-2024 hajj.

This information was conveyed by a VOI source who said that the signing had been carried out by the leadership of the anti-corruption commission this week. The Notice of Commencement of Investigation (SPDP) is also said to have been issued.

Still from the same information, there are other parties who are also named as suspects. But, it has not been detailed who they are.

Until now, the KPK has not provided official information about the determination of the suspect. VOI has tried to contact the Head of the KPK and the Acting Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK Asep Guntur Rahayu but no one has responded.

The KPK only named a suspect in this case because the investigation process used a general investigation order (sprindik).

It is known that VOI received information that the determination of suspects in the haj quota corruption case had not been carried out because there were two leaders who were hesitant to act. This moment occurred during the trial or exposure in December.

Confirmed about the news, Deputy Chairman of the KPK Fitroh Rohcahyanto did not deny that there were leaders of the anti-corruption commission who were hesitant. However, this is considered to be from the dynamics that often occur in many cases.

"Yes, it is normal in a dynamic, that's it. It is common in every case, not just this case, there must be differences of opinion," Fitroh told reporters at the KPK's Red and White building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Wednesday, December 7.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the KPK Setyo Budiyanto said that the determination of suspects in this case was only waiting for time. His party only needs to ensure the work of investigators who handle the case.

"It remains to be seen what the investigators are doing, everything has been fulfilled for later to be confirmed that there will be a time," Setyo told reporters at the KPK's Red and White building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Wednesday, December 7.

Setyo ensured that all KPK leaders were committed to completing this case. "There is no split. From the investigation process to then going up to the investigation stage, everything is one voice. That's round," he said.

As previously reported, the KPK has issued a general investigation order (sprindik) regarding alleged corruption in determining quotas and organizing the 2023-2024 Hajj period on August 7, 2025. This institution reasoned that the issuance was carried out so that they could make efforts to force requests for information or searches.

The Sprindik general uses Article 2 Paragraph 1 and/or Article 3 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2021 jo article 55 paragraph 1-1 of the Criminal Code. This means that there is state loss that occurs due to this corrupt practice.

The KPK said that the state's losses in the 2023-2024 quota and Hajj management corruption cases were said to have reached more than Rp. 1 trillion. The suspicion began with the provision of 20,000 additional Hajj quotas from the Saudi Arabian government for Indonesia to reduce the queue of 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 legislation, the distribution should be 92 percent for regular hajj and 8 percent for special hajj.

During the course of this case, a number of parties have been examined. Among them are former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas to travel agents or travel agents who organize special hajj (PIHK), including Fuad Hasan Masyhur as the boss of Maktour.

Then the evidence was also obtained by investigators after carrying out a series of searches at various locations. Yaqut's house was also searched and documents were found.