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Indonesian Official Accused of Holding Dual Roles in Hajj Fund Management
🇮🇩 Indonesia /Crime & Justice

Indonesian Official Accused of Holding Dual Roles in Hajj Fund Management

From CNN Indonesia · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Ishfah Abidal Azis, a defendant in a Hajj quota corruption case, is accused of holding two positions simultaneously: member of the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH) Supervisory Board and Special Staff to the Religious Affairs Minister.
  • He reportedly served on the BPKH Supervisory Board from October 2022 to October 2024 while also holding his ministerial staff position.
  • This dual role was revealed during a trial where BPKH officials testified, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest and access to sensitive financial information regarding Hajj funds.

A defendant in a corruption case involving additional Hajj quotas for 2023-2024 is alleged to have simultaneously held two significant positions: a member of the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH) Supervisory Board and Special Staff to the former Religious Affairs Minister, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas. Ishfah Abidal Azis, also known as Gus Alex, reportedly served on the BPKH Supervisory Board from October 17, 2022, to October 2024.

Yes (holding dual roles as a member of the BPKH Supervisory Board and Special Staff to the Religious Affairs Minister).

— Fadlul ImansyahConfirming Ishfah Abidal Azis held both positions simultaneously.

The revelation came during a trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court, where the Head of BPKH, Fadlul Imansyah, and Deputy Head of Finance, Irwanto, testified. Fadlul Imansyah confirmed that Ishfah held both roles, stating, "Yes (holding dual roles as a member of the BPKH Supervisory Board and Special Staff to the Religious Affairs Minister)." He noted that Ishfah was appointed to the BPKH Supervisory Board, representing the Ministry of Religious Affairs, while also serving as a special staffer.

Irwanto also acknowledged Ishfah's position as a special staffer to the Minister of Religious Affairs but expressed less certainty about whether he retained that role while serving at BPKH. However, he confirmed Ishfah's formal registration as a member of the BPKH Supervisory Board. The Supervisory Board is responsible for approving BPKH's strategic plans and annual work plans before they are submitted to the House of Representatives (DPR), as well as overseeing the management of Hajj funds.

It is a thing of great embarrassment to this country when major oil and gas companies come to Nigeria to discuss investments worth billions of dollars, only to meet the regulator in a block of flats and from there proceed to other parts of the city to see different departments to conduct transactions with the NUPRC. This image is not just bad for the country, but bad for business.

— Senator Magnus AbeDescribing the negative image projected by the NUPRC's current fragmented office situation.

During the testimony, prosecutors inquired about Ishfah's access to information regarding the value of benefits to be distributed to regular and special Hajj pilgrims. Both witnesses confirmed that board members could request such information. The prosecution presented this testimony as a trial fact, suggesting potential implications for the ongoing corruption investigation. The case centers on allegations of corruption related to additional Hajj quotas, and the dual role of a key figure raises questions about transparency and oversight in the management of Hajj finances.

He could request.

— IrwantoResponding to a question about Ishfah's access to information on Hajj benefit values.
About this summary

Originally published by CNN Indonesia in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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