Former Indonesian minister to present defense in hajj quota corruption case

The Central Jakarta District Court is set to hold a follow-up hearing on August 18, 2026, for the alleged corruption case involving former Minister of Religious Affairs, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas. The trial centers on accusations of corruption related to the allocation of hajj visa quotas for the years 2023 and 2024.

“

We are questioning, among other things, the disappearance of Fuad Hasan Masyhur's name from the end of the indictment, even though his name was mentioned several times in the course of the case.

Prosecutors from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) allege that Yaqut personally benefited by $271,500, equivalent to approximately Rp 4.83 billion, from fees collected for expedited hajj services. The indictment claims Yaqut illicitly managed and allocated 50 percent of the additional 2024 hajj quota without proper technical review. This action allegedly involved facilitating the departure of hajj pilgrims and special officers who were not originally entitled to the allocated quotas.

Yaqut is accused of orchestrating this scheme alongside former special staff Ishfah Abidal Aziz, Maktour Operations Director Ismail Adham, and former Chairman of the Indonesian Hajj and Umrah Travel Companies Association, Asrul Aziz Taba. The prosecution contends that the purpose was to accommodate requests from hajj travel agencies, accompanied by the collection of expedited fees from pilgrims and special officers.

“

The defendant enriched himself by US$271,500 or Rp 4.83 billion (exchange rate Rp 17,800) in the alleged corruption case of Indonesia's hajj quota for 2023–2024.

The defense team, led by lawyer Dodi Abdulkadir, plans to file an exception (eksepsi) challenging the prosecution's indictment. A key point of contention for the defense is the alleged omission of Fuad Hasan Masyhur's name from the final charges, despite his repeated mention in the case's proceedings. The defense argues that this and other issues within the indictment warrant a formal objection.

“

The defendant carried out the filling of the additional 2023 and 2024 hajj quotas with Special Hajj Pilgrims Without Waiting Time (TO)/Special Hajj Pilgrims With x Years Waiting Time (Tx) not in accordance with the established mechanism.