Yaqut Qoumas: Ex-Religious Affairs Minister Moved to House Arrest in Hajj Corruption Case

Jakarta, Indonesia – Former Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas has been placed under house arrest by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), a temporary shift from detention at a KPK detention center, according to a statement released Saturday, March 21, 2026.

“The investigators carried out a change in the type of detention against the suspect, Brother YCQ, from detention at the KPK detention center to house arrest since last Thursday (March 19, 2026) evening,” KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo stated.

Prasetyo emphasized the move adheres to articles 108, paragraph (1) and (11) of Indonesia’s Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP), Law Number 20 of 2025. Qoumas had been held in detention for approximately one week, formally arrested on Thursday, March 12, 2026, following the rejection of his pre-trial motion by the South Jakarta District Court.

Qoumas faces charges under Article 2, paragraph (1), and/or Article 3 of Law No. 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption. The KPK estimates the state financial losses resulting from the alleged corruption in the hajj quota scheme to be Rp 622 billion (approximately $40.4 million USD).

Qoumas was initially named a suspect in the hajj quota corruption case on Friday, January 9, 2026. The KPK stated the decision to detain or not detain a suspect is based on the needs of the investigation. According to the KPK, Qoumas allegedly orchestrated conditions to manipulate the hajj quota for 2023-2024, including altering regulations and implementing technical adjustments.

Specifically, Qoumas reportedly instructed Hilman Latief, Director General of Hajj and Umrah (PHU), to relax regulations concerning the special hajj quota. A new policy was designed to divide additional hajj quotas with a 50/50 split between regular and special hajj pilgrims. This allocation violated Article 64, paragraph 2 of Law Number 8 of 2019 concerning the Implementation of Hajj and Umrah Pilgrimage, which stipulates a 92/8 percent distribution for regular versus special quotas.

The 50:50 distribution was reportedly communicated to Hilman Latief after Qoumas met with Fuad Hasan Masyur, head of the Forum Silaturahmi Asosiasi Travel Haji dan Umrah (Forum SATHU), in November 2023. Hilman Latief was similarly allegedly directed to draft a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Arabian government proposing the 50:50 quota split for additional hajj allocations.

The KPK is also investigating alleged illicit funds transferred from special hajj pilgrimage organizers (PIHK) to officials within the Ministry of Religious Affairs in exchange for quota allocations, according to Prasetyo.