Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta.  The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) detained former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas on Thursday (12/3/2026) following a lengthy investigation into the fraudulent allocation of Hajj quotas and pilgrimage management.

“I have never received a single cent from the cases alleged against me, and I implemented all these policies solely for the safety of the pilgrims,” he said while being escorted to a detention vehicle at the KPK headquarters in Jakarta, despite audit reports from the State Audit Board (BPK) citing state losses of approximately Rp 622 billion.

The detention recorded a major escalation in a case that began in August 2025, involving alleged irregularities in the 2023-2024 Hajj season, according to antaranews.com

Alongside Qoumas, his staffer Ishfah Abidal Aziz has also been named a suspect, while authorities previously imposed travel bans on several high-profile people, including travel agency owners. 

Following the rejection of his pretrial motion, the former minister will remain in custody as investigators finalize the case investigation, which centers on the misuse of authority and financial mismanagement that significantly depleted state religious funds.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)