Yaqut Cholil Quomas faces Hajj quota corruption trial

Former Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Quomas appeared in the Jakarta Corruption Court regarding allegations of corruption involving the management of additional Hajj quotas for 2023–2024. The case involves an estimated state loss of approximately Rp622 billion.

During the trial, Mahmud Muchtar Syarif, CEO of PT Almuchtar Tour and Travel, testified that fees were paid to smuggle pilgrims into the official Hajj officer quota. Syarif stated that in 2023, a fee of $6,000 per person was paid to a former Ministry of Religious Affairs employee, Ridwan Kurniawan, for 28 individuals. For 2024, he testified that 37 pilgrims were processed using a fee of $5,000 per person.

Yaqut Cholil Quomas has denied the allegations, including the accusation that he received $271,500 in illicit funds. He raised concerns regarding the credibility of the investigation, noting that at least nine witnesses have reportedly retracted or changed their statements within the last five weeks.