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Ex-Minister Yaqut faces first trial in Hajj quota corruption case
🇮🇩 Indonesia /Crime & Justice

Ex-Minister Yaqut faces first trial in Hajj quota corruption case

From CNN Indonesia · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • Former Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, faces his first trial for alleged corruption related to additional Hajj quotas in 2023-2024.
  • The trial, held at the Jakarta Corruption Court, also includes three other defendants, including Yaqut's special staff.
  • The case involves alleged state financial losses of Rp622 billion, though Yaqut's legal team disputes the calculation, citing a significant reduction in the alleged loss amount in the indictment.

Former Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, is set to undergo his inaugural trial on charges of alleged corruption concerning additional Hajj quotas for the 2023-2024 period. The proceedings commenced Tuesday at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Tipikor Court in Central Jakarta.

Alongside Yaqut, three other individuals are facing charges and the reading of indictments by the KPK prosecutor. These include Ishfah Abidal Azis, also known as Gus Alex, who served as Yaqut's special staff; Ismail Adham, the Operational Director of Maktour; and Asrul Azis Taba, the Chairman of the Asosiasi Kesthuri and Commissioner of PT Raudah Eksati Utama.

The state losses have changed. It was once around Rp622 billion, and now in the indictment, it has changed again to 271,000 US dollars.

— Dodi Abdul KadirYaqut's lawyer highlights the discrepancy in the alleged financial losses in the corruption case.

The case is being prosecuted under articles related to the eradication of corruption, specifically concerning state financial losses. According to an audit by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) of the Republic of Indonesia, the alleged corruption has resulted in state financial losses amounting to Rp622 billion.

However, Yaqut's legal team has raised significant objections regarding the calculation of these losses. During a press conference on Monday, Yaqut's lawyer, Dodi Abdul Kadir, stated that the alleged state losses have fluctuated, initially reported around Rp622 billion and then revised to $271,000 USD in the indictment. Dodi argued that there is no material evidence to support the alleged receipt of funds, suggesting the figure was based on assumptions rather than concrete proof. He warned that such a basis for charges could lead to arbitrary actions and abuse of power.

This is very dangerous if someone, just based on assumptions or imagination, is framed as having committed a corruption crime, in the form of gratification or gifts or bribes that can lead to corruption charges for the issuance of a policy, then arbitrariness and abuse of power will occur.

— Dodi Abdul KadirYaqut's lawyer expresses concern about the potential for arbitrary prosecution based on assumptions rather than evidence.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNN Indonesia in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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