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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Economy & Trade

KPK Receives Rp 8.4 Billion Back from Khalid Basalamah After Three Interrogations

From Republika · (11m ago) Indonesian Critical tone

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Ustaz Khalid Basalamah, identified as the boss of Uhud Tour, has returned Rp 8.4 billion to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
  • The money is allegedly linked to a corruption case involving hajj quotas at the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
  • Basalamah claims the money was returned to him by PT Muhibbah and that he was unaware of its origins, stating he returned it to the KPK when requested.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has received a significant sum of Rp 8.4 billion from Ustaz Khalid Basalamah, a prominent figure associated with the hajj travel industry and head of the Hajj Pearl Association. This return of funds is reportedly connected to an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption surrounding hajj quotas at the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

PT Muhibbah returned funds to us, and we didn't know what kind of money it was. The amount was around Rp 8.4 billion, that's right, it was returned.

— Khalid BasalamahExplaining the origin of the Rp 8.4 billion returned to the KPK.

Basalamah, also known as the boss of Uhud Tour, stated after his examination as a witness that the money was returned to him by PT Muhibbah, a hajj travel company. He claims to have been unaware of the nature or origin of these funds, asserting that he handed them over to the KPK upon the investigators' request. He explained that PT Muhibbah had offered to arrange travel for pilgrims using official visas, a service he accepted despite previously arranging travel through 'furoda' quotas.

Basalamah vehemently denied any involvement in illicit financial flows related to the hajj quota case. He maintained that he was registered as a pilgrim with PT Muhibbah and had no knowledge of any issues with the visas provided. He further stated that he has no connection to the individuals currently implicated as suspects in the case.

That money was not kept by us. The money was given by Muhibbah, and we didn't know what kind of money it was. The KPK asked for it, and we returned it when asked.

— Khalid BasalamahDenying possession of the funds and stating his compliance with KPK's request.

KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo confirmed that Basalamah's return of funds was not an isolated incident. He indicated that the commission has received similar returns from other Hajj Special Service Providers (PIHK) as part of the investigation. This suggests a broader pattern of financial irregularities being addressed by the KPK in its pursuit of corruption within the hajj quota system.

In the investigation of the alleged corruption case related to hajj quotas, the KPK not only received the return of funds from Mr. KB but also from other PIHKs.

— Budi PrasetyoConfirming the return of funds and indicating it's part of a larger process.
DistantNews Editorial

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

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