Yaqut Charged with Amassing Rp4.83 Billion in the Hajj Quota Corruption Case

The defendant in the alleged corruption case of the haj quota, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (left), is accompanied by his wife Eny Retno/ANTARA FOTO/Bayu Pratama S/nym.

JAKARTA - The Minister of Religion for the period 2020-2024, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, was charged with enriching himself by 271,500 US dollars or the equivalent of Rp. 4.83 billion (exchange rate of Rp. 17,800 per US dollar) in the case of alleged corruption in Indonesian Hajj quotas in 2023-2024.

Public prosecutor (JPU) from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Fahmi Idris revealed that the money was allegedly derived from acceleration costs from the Special Haji Organizers (PIHK) in the implementation of the 2023 hajj.

"Ridwan collected the fee for the acceleration of 1.24 million US dollars and 250 million rupiah according to the direction of Rizky Fisa Abadi," said the JPU when reading the indictment in a trial at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court, Tuesday, August 11, reported by ANTARA.

The JPU revealed that the acceleration costs were sourced from Mahmud Muchtar Sjarif from PT Al Muchtar Tour and Travel, Imam Aji Ubaidah from PT Tisaga Multazam Utama, and Umi Munjayanah from PT Rizma Sabilul Harom.

In detail, the acceleration costs include from PT Al Muchtar Tour and Travel through Mahmud for a total of 104 pilgrims and 12 officers worth 664,500 US dollars and 250 million rupiah.

Then, from PT Tisaga Multazam Utama through Imam a total of 59 pilgrims amounted to 472 thousand US dollars, as well as PT Rizma Sabilul Harom through Umi 100 thousand US dollars for 20 pilgrims.

After the 2023 Hajj service was completed, the JPU said Rizky distributed the acceleration costs given by the PIHK in Rizky's workroom with Abdul Muhyi and Ridwan.

Furthermore, Ridwan handed over the acceleration fee to Rizky in the amount of 905 thousand US dollars, while the remaining 331,500 US dollars and Rp. 250 million were controlled and used for Ridwan's personal interests.

The acceleration fee that Ridwan handed over to Rizky, was then distributed to Yaqut worth 271,500 US dollars; Rizky, Abdul, and Ridwan each 181 thousand US dollars; and the remaining 90,500 US dollars was distributed to parties in the Ministry of Religion.

Yaqut is suspected of having diverted and arranged the determination of the allocation of additional special hajj quotas in 2024 by 50 percent without a technical study basis and filling the additional special hajj quotas in 2023 and 2024 with the Special Hajj Jamaah Without Waiting Period (TO) / Special Hajj Jamaah with Waiting Period x Years (Tx) not in accordance with the mechanism that has been established.

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.

As a result of the actions suspected of the former Minister of Law and Human Rights, a number of parties were enriched so that the state treasury suffered a loss of IDR 622.09 billion.

In detail, the state's losses occurred due to the difference between the income and expenditure of the PIHK for the implementation of the 2024 hajj for special hajj pilgrims who should not have been entitled to leave worth Rp. 438.22 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.

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.