KPK Detains Former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas

March 12, 2026 | 07:46 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Former Minister of Religion, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, stated that he has never received any money from the alleged distribution of the 2024 hajj quota. Yaqut claimed that the additional hajj quota distribution policy he created during his tenure was intended to benefit the pilgrims.

"I have never received a single penny from the alleged case, and I made all these policies solely for the safety of the pilgrims," said Yaqut as he was escorted to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) car in Jakarta on Thursday, March 12, 2026.

The KPK has been interrogating Yaqut as a suspect, since 13:00 WIB (UTC+7). Yaqut was already wearing an orange vest with his hands handcuffed and carrying a batik-patterned folder when he left at 18:50 WIB.

Yaqut has been declared a corruption suspect for the hajj quota since January 8, 2026. He was named a suspect along with his former special staff, Ishfah Abidal Aziz alias Alex. Both are suspected of abusing their authority when issuing regulations for the distribution of the 2024 hajj quota.

Both suspects are charged under Articles 2 and 3 of the Anti-Corruption Law. These articles regulate the accusation of self-enrichment and others through policies. In other words, the two suspects benefited from the hajj policies they made.

The KPK stated that they had found evidence of irregularities in the distribution of an additional 20,000 hajj quotas intended for regular pilgrims. The Ministry of Religion distributed the additional hajj quota equally, with 10,000 each for regular and special hajj.

This policy was documented in Minister of Religion Decree Number 130 of 2204, dated January 15, 2024. Yaqut used the minister's discretion as regulated in the Hajj and Umrah Law, but disregarded the quota distribution provisions as stipulated in Article 64.

Meanwhile, Gus Alex, according to the KPK, was directly involved in the discretionary distribution of the additional hajj quota. Investigators also suspect Gus Alex's involvement in the flow of funds from the special hajj organizers to a few individuals within the Ministry of Religion.

Employees up to the top officials in the Ministry of Religion are suspected of benefiting from the distribution of special hajj quotas. Around 100 hajj agencies received the quotas with varying amounts. Each hajj travel agency had to pay US$2,700-7,000 or around Rp42-115 million to secure one seat.

The money flowed through several intermediaries, such as relatives and expert staff within the Ministry of Religion. "So it didn't go directly from the travel agents to the officials at the Ministry of Religion," said KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu.

Read: Minister: 2026 Hajj Departure Remains on Schedule Despite Iran War

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