JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) examined Hilman Latief as the former Director General of Haji and Umrah Implementation of the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) today, June 24. He was questioned as a witness to the alleged corruption in determining the quota and implementation of the 2023-2024 hajj.
"Today, investigators have scheduled an examination of HL as the Director General of Haji and Umrah," said KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo to reporters through his written statement, Wednesday, June 24.
Budi said Hilman was examined at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta. "The person concerned arrived at around 09.30 WIB," he said.
Budi has not detailed the materials of the examination against Hilman. Because, the examination is still being carried out until now.
However, Hilman's statement is confirmed to be needed to complete the file of former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and three other suspects. "Currently, investigators are still conducting an examination," said Budi.
"In his capacity as Director General of PHU, the investigator certainly needs his statement to complete the investigation file for the four suspects in the case related to the management of this special hajj quota," he continued.
The KPK has revealed that Hilman allegedly received US$5,000 and 16,000 SAR or Saudi Arabian riyals from PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour) Operations Director Ismail Adham. The donation was for arranging the additional special haji quota.
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 there is also a gift of money to Hilman Latief who served as the Director General of Haji and Umrah.
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 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 Minister of Religion allegedly unilaterally changed its composition. Using the maneuver of issuing a Minister of Religion Decree (KMA) that 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 handed over to the proposal of the Special Hajj Service (PIHK) or travel agents which should be in accordance with the national order number as regulated by 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.
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. The suspects are 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.
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