Luxury cars and bags displayed in alleged Hajj quota corruption trial

Prosecutors from Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission displayed a Honda BR-V, a Range Rover, luxury bags and a diamond bracelet during a hearing over alleged corruption in additional Hajj quotas for 2023 and 2024.

The seized items belonged to Ridwan Kurniawan, a former honorary worker at the Religious Affairs Ministry. When prosecutors identified the evidence in court on Tuesday, Ridwan confirmed that the items were his and said he had returned them after they were seized.

Asked where the money for the purchases came from, Ridwan replied, “It seems so,” referring to accelerated processing for special Hajj travel operators, known as PIHK. He also confirmed that he had received money from several PIHK operators to speed up the organization of the 2024 Hajj. He said the money had been returned to the operators.

Prosecutors presented Ridwan as a witness for four defendants: former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, who served from 2019 to 2024; Yaqut’s special staff member Ishfah Abidal Azis, also known as Gus Alex; Maktour Operations Director Ismail Adham; and Asrul Azis Taba, chairman of the Kesthuri Association and commissioner of PT Raudah Eksati Utama.

Three other witnesses also appeared: Abdul Muhyi, who headed special Hajj registration from 2014 to 2020; private-sector worker Nila Adulitya Devi; and Domestic Hajj Services Director Saiful Mujab. An investigative audit by Indonesia’s Audit Board estimated state losses at 622.090 billion rupiah, or about 622 billion rupiah. Prosecutors also allege that the scheme enriched other parties, including 313 PIHK operators.

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It seems so.