Former Investigator on the Controversy over Yaqut's Status as a Prisoner: Without Intervention, It is Impossible to Happen

Former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas/ANTARA FOTO/FAKHRI HERMANSYAH

JAKARTA - Former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator, Praswad Nugraha, assessed that the change in the status of detention of the former Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas who was controversial could not happen without political intervention. Who is playing must be revealed to the public.

"It is difficult to ignore the alleged political intervention in this decision," Praswad told reporters in a written statement, Friday, March 27.

Praswad believes that the KPK investigators are of integrity. Therefore, the controversial transfer of the detention status is confirmed not to be their decision.

"As former KPK investigators and knowing our colleagues in the agency, we can guarantee their integrity one million percent. This controversy would never have happened without political intervention. Therefore, the KPK must reveal who the political cowboy is," he said.

The KPK is also asked to be honest and open to the public if there is an intervention. "It must be revealed openly," said Praswad.

According to him, uncovering the figure who intervened is important to provide a deterrent effect and prevent similar things from happening again.

"Without transparency, intervention practices will continue to repeat and damage the system from within. Opening these actors to the public space is an important step to break the chain of abuse of power," he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK Asep Guntur Rahayu admitted that he did not know whether there was any intervention in the change in Yaqut's detention status. He emphasized that this decision was made through a leadership meeting (rapim).

"As far as I know, there is no (political intervention)," Asep told reporters at the KPK's Red and White building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Thursday, March 26.

Instead of intervention, Asep said that the change in Yaqut's detention status was a strategy for investigating the alleged corruption in determining quotas and the implementation of the 2023-2024 hajj. Proof, there has been progress in this case after the controversy occurred in the community.

"Alhamdulillah for the public's support to us, of course, in handling this matter of the Hajj quota. Today there has been very good progress but we can't say it yet, we will say it on Monday (next week, ed). "

As previously reported, former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas had been under house arrest since Thursday, March 19. The transfer of the status of detention was carried out after there was a request from the family on March 17 or five days after the detention on Thursday, March 12.

The KPK claims that the change in status from prison detention to house arrest has been reviewed and is 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.

After the polemics, the KPK then re-detained Yaqut at the Red and White KPK Branch Detention Center on Tuesday, March 24. This process was initiated by a health examination first at Bhayangkara Hospital Tk. I. R. Said Sukanto, East Jakarta on Monday, March 23.

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 together with staff, especially Ishfah Abidal Azis alias Gus Alex. This alleged corruption began with the provision of 20,000 additional Hajj quotas from the Saudi Arabian government to Indonesia in 2023-2024.

Based on Law Number 8 of 2019 concerning the Implementation of the Hajj and Umrah and the results of the agreement of the Panja Meeting of Commission VIII of the DPR RI, the special hajj quota should be set at 8 percent of the total quota, while the remaining 92 percent is intended for regular hajj.

However, Yaqut as the Minister of Religion at that time allegedly unilaterally changed its composition. Using the maneuver of issuing the Minister of Religion Decree (KMA) which was not disseminated transparently, Yaqut then divided the additional Hajj quota into a scheme of 50 percent for regular Hajj and 50 percent for special Hajj.

Meanwhile, Ishfah Abidal Aziz implemented the policy by easing the rules for special hajj pilgrims.

He arranged for the filling of the remaining special hajj quota to be handed over to the proposed Special Hajj Service (PIHK) or travel agents. In fact, there should be an order of departure according to the national order number according to the law.

In return for these accelerated facilities, Gus Alex instructed his subordinates to collect illegal levies or fees from travel parties, which were ultimately charged to prospective special pilgrims. In 2023, the amount of fees set at USD5,000 or around Rp84.4 million per pilgrim.

Then, in the 2024 Hajj, the collection rate was agreed at least USD2,000 to USD2,500 per pilgrim.

The billions of rupiah from the collection of fees are suspected to have flowed into the pockets of Gus Yaqut, Gus Alex, and a number of other officials in the Ministry of Religion.

Then there is an allegation that some of the funds were deliberately prepared and used to condition the Special Hajj Committee (Pansus) which was formed by the DPR RI in mid-2024. However, a refusal was given so that no transfer by intermediaries would occur.

As a result of the actions of the two, the state is said to have lost up to IDR 622 billion. They were then suspected of violating Article 2 (1) and or Article 3 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 jo Article 55 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.