Yaqut Cholil Qoumas's First Trial Held Today

Former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Former Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas alias Gus Yaqut is scheduled to undergo the first trial for alleged corruption in the distribution of additional Hajj quotas for the 2023-2024 period at the Corruption Crime Court (Tipikor) at the Central Jakarta District Court, Tuesday, August 11.

The trial is scheduled to take place starting at 10.00 WIB with the agenda of reading the indictment by the prosecutor from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

The trial will be led by presiding judge Ni Kadek Susantiani with judges Adek Nurhadi and Sigit Herman.

In this case, Yaqut was charged with former staff, specifically Ishfah Abidal Aziz alias Gus Alex, in connection with alleged corruption in the management of additional Hajj quotas for the period 2023-2024.

Previously, Yaqut said he was ready to face the trial process and provide information according to the facts he knew.

The KPK is known to have started investigating the case of alleged corruption in the Indonesian Hajj quota for the period 2023-2024 on August 9, 2025. The anti-corruption institution then named Yaqut and Ishfah as suspects on January 9, 2026.

In the development of the investigation, the KPK also named Maktour Operations Director Ismail Adham and the former General Chairman of the Union of Tour Travel Haji Umrah of the Republic of Indonesia Asrul Aziz Taba as new suspects on March 30, 2026. The two were then detained on June 8, 2026.

Meanwhile, the owner of the Hajj organizing office Maktour, Fuad Hasan Masyhur, was prevented from traveling abroad, but was not named a suspect in the case.

The KPK received the results of the audit of the Financial Audit Agency (BPK) on February 24, 2026 which stated that the potential loss of the state in the alleged corruption case of the haj quota amounted to Rp. 622 billion.

Yaqut was detained at the KPK Red and White Building Branch State Detention House on March 12, 2026. His detention period was temporarily transferred to house arrest on March 19, 2026 at the request of the family, before being re-detained at the KPK detention house on March 24, 2026.

On June 24, 2026, the KPK transferred Yaqut's detention to the Police Hospital (RS) after the politician suffered a health problem in the digestive tract.

This first trial is an important stage to test the prosecutor's charges while providing an opportunity for Yaqut and his legal team to present their defense in a trial that is open to the public.