So Suspect of Corruption in Hajj Quota, Legal Counsel Ensure Yaqut Cholil Qoumas Respect the Process at the KPK

DOCUMENTATION/ Former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas walks towards the examination room at the KPK Red and White building, Jakarta, Tuesday (16/12/2025) ANTARA FOTO/Indrianto Eko Suwarso/foc.

JAKARTA - The lawyer for former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, Mellisa Anggraeni, confirmed that his client respected the determination of the suspect status made by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

This was conveyed by Mellisa after the KPK announced that Yaqut and his staff, in particular, Ishfah Abidal Aziz alias Gus Alex as suspects in the corruption case for determining quotas and organizing the 2023-2024 hajj in the Ministry of Religion. He said his client had been cooperative since the alleged corruption had rolled out.

"We express our full respect for the ongoing legal process," Mellisa told reporters in a written statement, Friday, January 9.

Mellisa said that her party had also officially received a notification from the KPK. In the future, he hopes that all parties will continue to apply the principle of presumption of innocence.

"We emphasize that in every legal process, every citizen has legal rights guaranteed by law, including the right to fair treatment and the principle of presumption of innocence until there is a court decision with the force of law," he said.

"As legal advisors, we will accompany our clients professionally and responsibly, and take all necessary legal steps and efforts in accordance with applicable laws and regulations to protect the legal rights of our clients," continued Mellisa.

The KPK announced two suspects for alleged corruption in determining quotas and organizing the 2023-2024 hajj at the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag). They are former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and staff in particular, Ishfah Abidal Aziz alias Gus Alex.

"The KPK has named two people as suspects. First, brother YCQ as the former Minister of Religion and the second, brother IAA as the stafsus of the Minister of Religion at that time," said KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to reporters at the KPK Red and White building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Friday, January 9.

Budi said that the two were charged with Article 2 Paragraph 1 and/or Article 3 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption Crimes 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 BPK is currently still continuing to calculate to calculate the amount of state financial losses caused by this case," he said.

As previously reported, the KPK first issued a general investigation order (sprindik) regarding the alleged corruption in determining quotas and the implementation of 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, according to the law, 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.