2023-2024 Hajj Quota Corruption Case: KPK Will Try Yaqut After Hajj 2026

Suspect in the alleged corruption case of the haj quota and the implementation of the haj pilgrimage, former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas at the KPK Red and White Building, Jakarta (Tsa Tsia/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) revealed that the former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas along with his staff, especially Ishfah Abidal Azis, who is a suspect in the corruption case of determining quotas and the implementation of the 2023-2024 hajj will be tried after the 2026 hajj season is completed.

Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK, Asep Guntur Rahayu, said this decision was taken so that witnesses could attend the trial without having to be in Saudi Arabia. Because their testimony is needed to prove the actions of Yaqut and his friends.

"Don't let the person concerned (the witnesses, ed) still carry out his duties in this hajj activity. So that later it will have an impact on the implementation of the hajj," Asep told reporters at the KPK's Red and White building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, quoted Tuesday, June 2.

Even so, Asep has not specified when the transfer will take place. He only ensures that there will be many witnesses who will certainly be presented by the prosecutor.

"Insyaallah as soon as we will carry out the transfer and also the trial will be held soon."

Meanwhile, KPK Chairman Setyo Budiyanto ensured that the evidence presented in the hearing of the Hajj quota corruption case would be maximized. This is because investigators continue to examine the witnesses.

"I am sure that with the condition of quite a lot of witnesses, the investigators must, must try to collect so that the strength to be able to then eh the file is declared P21 or complete by the prosecutor, must be really maximum," Setyo told reporters, Thursday, May 21.

"Don't just have a lot of witnesses, but then later it turns out that there are still some who are still open. Hopefully everything can be covered so that later it can be at the time of the trial process it is complete."

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.

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, he divided the additional Hajj quota into a 50 percent scheme for regular Hajj and 50 percent for special Hajj.

Meanwhile, Ishfah Abidal Aziz implemented the policy by relaxing the rules for special hajj pilgrims. He is suspected of arranging the filling of the remaining special hajj quota to be proposed by the Special Hajj Service Provider (PIHK) in accordance with the national order number as stipulated in the regulations.

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.

Meanwhile, 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.