jakarta, Indonesia – Funds totaling USD 4,537,000 collected from congregants by cleric Khalid Basalamah have been surrendered to Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) as evidence in the ongoing investigation into alleged corruption surrounding the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage quota.
The money, comprised of USD 4,500 multiplied by 118 pilgrims plus an additional USD 37,000, was returned as part of the KPK’s probe, detikhikmah reported Monday. The case centers on the allocation of an additional 20,000 Hajj quotas granted to Indonesia, with a planned 50/50 split between regular and special Hajj packages. Investigators suspect irregularities in the distribution, potentially shifting regular quotas to more expensive special hajj packages, resulting in estimated state losses exceeding Rp 1 trillion (approximately USD 63 million).
The KPK is currently examining how Khalid Basalamah’s group was able to depart for Hajj using additional quota, specifically focusing on a transition from utilizing furoda (self-reliant Hajj packages) to a special pilgrimage arrangement. “investigators explore how the acquisition of the pilgrimage departure quota is like what the mechanism is, then in the field like what the relevant recognition is also related to initially using furoda, then shifted into a special hajj,” stated KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo on Thursday.
While the investigation has progressed to the examination of witnesses, including former Religious Minister Yaqut Cholil Qouumas, no suspects have yet been named. the KPK is also investigating other travel bureaus potentially involved in seeking favorable quota allocations from the Ministry of Religion.According to Indonesian law, special Hajj quotas are limited to 8 percent of the total national quota.
