Indonesia
The trial of former religious affairs minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas began on Tuesday at the Jakarta Corruption Court, with prosecutors accusing him of abusing his authority in the management of the haj quota three years ago to enrich himself, ministry officials and private travel agencies.
Graft defendant Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (center) is handcuffed on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, after a court hearing to read the indictment in a Haj quota corruption case at the Jakarta Corruption Court. Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors accused the former religious affairs minister of causing Rp 622 billion (US$38.6 million) in state losses. (Antara/Bayu Pratama S)
The trial of former religious affairs minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas began on Tuesday at the Jakarta Corruption Court, with prosecutors accusing him of abusing his authority in the management of haj quota three years ago to enrich himself, ministry officials and private travel agencies.Prosecutors from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) alleged that Yaqut had abused his authority when distributing the extra spots for 2023 and 2024 haj seasons equally between the state-subsidized regular haj and the special haj programs, even though the prevailing law caps the latter to 8 percent.
