Today the KPK Examines Muhadjir Effendy Regarding the Hajj Quota Corruption Case

Muhadjir Effendy/PHOTO: Teddy Kurniawan-VOI

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has scheduled an examination of the former Minister of Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture of the 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo (Jokowi), Muhadjir Effendy today, May 18. He will be examined as a witness in the alleged corruption in determining quotas and organizing the 2023-2024 hajj at the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag).

"Today, investigators have scheduled an examination of the MHJ witness," KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo told reporters, Monday, May 18.

Budi said Muhadjir was questioned because he had been the Interim Minister of Religion. Based on the investigation of a number of reports, Muhadjir, who is currently serving as the President's Special Advisor for Hajj Affairs, replaced Yaqut Cholil Qoumas in 2022 for a while.

This appointment was made because Yaqut was then leaving for Saudi Arabia to perform the hajj pilgrimage.

The examination was carried out at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta. However, Budi has not detailed the material that will be dug from Muhadjir.

The KPK previously named two new suspects in the Hajj quota corruption case, namely Ismail Adhan as the Director of Operations of Maktour Travel and Asrul Azis Taba who is the former General Chairman of the Indonesian Hajj and Umrah Travel Association (Kesthuri). The two are suspected of plotting to get additional Hajj quotas from the Saudi government even giving money.

Ismail is said to have given money to Ishfah Abidal Azis, who is a former special staff of the Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas worth 30 thousand US dollars. Then, he gave money to Abdul Latief as the Director General of Haji and Umrah (Dirjen PHU) Ministry of Religion with details of 5,000 US dollars and 16,000 Saudi riyals.

This act then made Maktour obtain an illegal profit in 2024 worth Rp. 27.8 billion.

Meanwhile, Asrul is said to have given money worth 406 thousand US dollars. From this gift, eight special haj organizers (PIHK) under the auspices of Kesthuri received illegal profits of up to Rp. 40.8 billion.

The determination of the two is an expansion of the corruption case of the haj quota which had previously ensnared Yaqut and Ishfah. This suspected corruption began with the provision of 20,000 additional haj quotas from the Saudi Arabian government to Indonesia in 2023-2024.