The existence of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs Yaqut 'Uncovered' by Immanuel Ebenezer's Wife, KPK Transparency Spotlighted

Former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator, Yudi Purnomo, questioned the transparency of the status of the detention of former Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas who is a suspect in the corruption case of determining quotas and the implementation of the 2023-2024 hajj.

Yudi said the KPK only opened up about Yaqut's status after the wife of former Deputy Minister of Manpower Immanuel Ebenezer, Silvia Rinita Harefa, revealed that Yaqut was not seen at the KPK Red and White Building Branch Detention House since Thursday, March 19. This statement was delivered on Saturday, March 21 or two days later.

"Transparency to the public only exists when there are families of prisoners who convey to the public about Gus Yaqut who are not in detention. The KPK then only said that there was a suspension of detention under the pretext of being a house prisoner," Yudi told reporters in a written statement, Sunday, March 22.

Yudi further said that Yaqut's house arrest status was also a pretext. This condition is considered to create a bad precedent in the future.

Moreover, this change in the status of the prisoner is the first time it has happened. "When Yaqut can get the status of house arrest, all prisoners will certainly ask for a suspension from the prison detention and they should also be able to because of the principle of justice," he said.

"This will be chaotic, it will damage the system of eradicating corruption with high integrity that the KPK has built since its establishment."

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).

"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.