JAKARTA - Former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator, Praswad Nugraha, criticized the change in the status of former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas from house arrest to house arrest. This step is considered strange and has the potential to become a bad precedent.
"This policy is an event that has never happened throughout the history of the KPK. This practice is not only awkward but also opens up a gray area in the law enforcement standards that have been strictly guarded by the KPK," said Praswad in a written statement to reporters, Sunday, March 22.
Praswad also touched on the fact that this could violate the principle of equality before the law. Because, the KPK cannot just grant a similar request.
"If one suspect can get such treatment, then it is very possible that all KPK detainees will apply for a similar request. Will the KPK also agree to it? If not, then the KPK has the potential to violate the principle of equality before the law," he said.
Not stopping there, Praswad highlighted the risks from the investigation side. According to him, Yaqut very likely has the opportunity to interfere with the legal process of the corruption case on the determination of quotas and the implementation of the hajj which ensnared him.
"The status of house arrest in fact provides space for suspects to consolidate their strength, organize strategies, and even seek intervention from outside parties so that they can escape from the clutches of the law," he said.
This condition, continued Praswad, also has a number of implications for the KPK. In addition to indirectly prosecuting corruption, the anti-corruption commission can also become a public month.
"This step by the KPK has the potential to significantly erode public confidence. Instead of strengthening legitimacy, this policy actually deepens public distrust," said Praswad.
He urged the KPK Supervisory Board to intervene with this incident. "Investigate the KPK leadership who gave the approval," he said.
"It must not happen again that KPK detainees are treated in a special way as in the case of Yaqut. There must be no double standards in law enforcement, and there must be no one who gets special treatment in front of the law. Any form of different treatment, no matter how small, will create a bad precedent that can potentially be used as a reference by other suspects to demand similar treatment."
Yaqut is known to have been under house arrest since Thursday, March 19. Meanwhile, the family's request was submitted on March 17 or five days after being detained on Thursday, March 12.
The change in status from prison to house arrest was claimed by the KPK to have been reviewed and in accordance with Article 108 paragraph (1) and (11) of Law Number 20 of 2025 concerning the Criminal Procedure Code.
Article 108 paragraph (11) regulates that the transfer of type of detention can be carried out based on an investigation order which is given to the suspect, the suspect's family, and the interested parties.
As previously reported, the wife of former Deputy Minister of Manpower (Wamenaker) Immanuel Ebenezer, Silvia Rinita Harefa revealed that the former Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas was not at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Detention House (Rutan) since Thursday evening, March 19.
This was conveyed by Silvia after visiting her husband who is currently undergoing trial related to alleged extortion regarding safety and security certification (K3) at the Ministry of Manpower (Kemenaker).
Yaqut is known to be a suspect in the corruption case for determining quotas and organizing the 2023-2024 hajj pilgrimage at the Ministry of Religion.
"At first, I didn't see Gus Yaqut. The information said he would leave Thursday night," Silvia told reporters, Saturday, March 21.
Silvia admitted that Noel told him about Yaqut who was unknown. "Everyone knows about it. They just ask questions, right, they say there are examinations, but it's impossible that before the night of the prayer there will be an examination, right," he said.
"Until today, (former Minister of Foreign Affairs Yaqut, ed) there is none," he continued.
Yaqut was also not seen when the KPK held an Idulfitri prayer for prisoners of Islamic faith on Saturday, March 21. In fact, the former staff, especially, Ishfah Abidal Azis, who is also a suspect in the haj quota corruption case, was seen participating in the worship activity.
Ishfah was observed performing the Idulfitri prayer with other prisoners, namely the non-active Pati Regent Sudewo, the non-active Bekasi Regent Ade Kuswara Kunang, the non-active Lampung Tengah Regent Ardito Wijaya, to the non-active Pekalongan Regent Fadia Arafiq.
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