Yaqut Charged with Defrauding the State of IDR 622 Billion in the Hajj Quota Corruption Case

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas /ANTARA FOTO/Reno Esnir/sth/nym.

JAKARTA - The Minister of Religion for the period 2020-2024, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, was charged with causing damage to state finances worth IDR 622.09 billion related to the alleged corruption case of Indonesian Hajj quotas in 2023-2024.

The Public Prosecutor (JPU) from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Fahmi Idris suspects that Yaqut has diverted and arranged the determination of the allocation of additional special hajj quotas in 2024 by 50 percent without a technical study basis.

"The defendant has also filled in additional special hajj quotas in 2023 and 2024 with the Special Hajj without Waiting Period (TO) / Special Hajj with Waiting Period x Years (Tx) Jamaah not in accordance with the established mechanism," said the prosecutor when reading the indictment in the trial at the Corruption Court at the Jakpus PN, Tuesday, August 11.

The JPU explained that the action was allegedly carried out by Yaqut together with former staff, in particular, Ishfah Abidal Aziz alias Gus Alex, Maktour Operations Director Ismail Adham, and former General Chairman of the Union of Tour Travel Haji Umrah RI Asrul Aziz Taba.

It is said that the additional special hajj quota filling is carried out with the aim of accommodating the request from the Special Hajj Organizing Association (PIHK) accompanied by the receipt of acceleration fees from special hajj pilgrims and officers.

In detail, the state's losses occurred due to the difference between the income and expenditure of the PIHK for the 2024 hajj for special hajj pilgrims who should not have been entitled to leave worth Rp438.22 billion.

"Then, because there was a receipt from PIHK for the sale of special haji officer quotas in 2024 amounting to Rp39.95 billion and acceleration costs for additional special haji quotas in 2023 and 2024 for special haji pilgrims who should not have the right to leave worth Rp143.92 billion," said the JPU.

The JPU revealed that there were several parties who were enriched in the case, including Yaqut worth 271,500 US dollars or equivalent to Rp. 4.83 billion (exchange rate of Rp. 17,800 per US dollar).

Then, enrich Gus Alex by 5.23 million US dollars or Rp93.09 billion and Rp330 million; Rizky Fisa Abadi 427 thousand US dollars or Rp7.6 billion, Rp50 million, and 48 thousand US dollars or Rp854.4 million; and Abdul Muhyi 181 thousand US dollars or Rp3.22 billion and 127,500 US dollars or Rp2.27 billion.

Then, he also enriched Ridwan Kurniawan worth 512,500 US dollars or Rp9.12 billion and Rp250 million; Iyah Nuriyah 70 thousand US dollars or Rp1.25 billion; Doddy Suhada 59,500 US dollars or Rp1.06 billion; and Kamal and Adam Fakih Mukodam, each 3 thousand US dollars or Rp45 million.

The JPU said the actions of the defendants had also enriched Bambang Sutrisno by 80 thousand US dollars or Rp. 1.42 billion; Hud Rifky Assegaf 130 thousand US dollars or Rp. 2.31 billion; Anjas Asmara 30 thousand US dollars or Rp. 534 million; and Hafiz 94,600 US dollars or Rp. 1.68 billion.

In addition, it also enriched Makki Abdul Soleh worth 5 thousand US dollars or Rp89 million; Roy Kurniawan 18,500 US dollars or Rp329.3 million; Rachmat Wildan 7 thousand US dollars or Rp124.6 million; Farid Aljawi Rp52,500 US dollars or Rp934.5 million; and Ahmad Taufik 126,200 US dollars or Rp2.25 billion.

Several other parties who were enriched, namely Muzaki Kholis with a total of 84,500 US dollars or Rp1.5 billion; Badrusalam 4,500 US dollars or Rp80.1 million; Muhammad Zaki Yamani Rp353.6 million; Amaludin Wahab 602,600 US dollars or Rp10.73 billion; and Syihabbul Muttaqin 493,400 US dollars or Rp8.78 billion.

Furthermore, Tauhid Hamdi 20 thousand US dollars or Rp. 348.88 million; and Buchori Yusuf 56 thousand US dollars or Rp. 996.8 million. It also enriched the corporation in the form of 313 PIHK worth Rp. 478.17 billion and the 26,500 US dollar Boat Cooperative or Rp. 471.7 million.

For his actions, Yaqut was charged with violating the crime stipulated in Article 603 juncto Article 20 letter c of the National Criminal Code or Article 3 jo. Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1998 concerning the Eradication of Corruption Crimes as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001.