The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has imposed a six-month travel ban on former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas as part of its investigation into alleged corruption in the allocation of Indonesia’s 2024 Haj quota, which is estimated to have caused over Rp1 trillion (US$240 million) in state losses.

The travel ban, effective August 11, 2025, also applies to Ishfah Abidal Aziz, Yaqut’s former special staffer, and Fuad Hasan Masyhur, founder of Maktour, a prominent Haj travel agency.

KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo said the travel restriction ensures the three remain available for questioning as witnesses.

“This decision is related to the ongoing investigation into the Haj quota case. The travel ban will last for six months,” Budi told reporters on Tuesday, Aug 12, 2025, adding that no suspects have been named yet.

The move came days after Yaqut was questioned for about four hours by KPK investigators on August 7, 2025. Two days later, the agency formally announced that the case had entered the investigation stage. The travel ban was then issued on August 11 and publicly disclosed on August 12.

The case stems from Indonesia’s receipt of an additional 20,000 Haj slots from Saudi Arabia in 2024, following negotiations between then President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on October 19, 2024.

Under Indonesia’s Haj and Umrah Law, 92 percent of any quota should be allocated to regular pilgrims and 8 percent to special pilgrims. Based on this formula, 18,400 of the extra slots should have gone to regular pilgrims and 1,600 to special pilgrims.

However, the Ministry of Religious Affairs split the additional quota evenly 10,000 for regular pilgrims and 10,000 for special pilgrims bringing the total to 213,320 regular and 27,680 special pilgrims in 2024. KPK alleges that this deviation from the statutory allocation constitutes a violation of the law.

“This is what makes the act unlawful, it did not follow the legal allocation, which should have been 92 percent to 8 percent. Instead, it was split 50–50,” KPK Acting Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu said on August 5, 2025.

Preliminary loss estimates were calculated internally by KPK and discussed with the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), but a more detailed assessment will be conducted by the latter.

Responding to the investigation, Yaqut said he welcomed the opportunity to clarify matters to the commission but declined to comment on case details, citing the confidentiality of the probe. “I am thankful to have the chance to explain and clarify everything related to the 2024 Haj quota allocation,” he said after the questioning.

Through his spokesperson, Anna Hasbie, Yaqut said he only learned of the travel ban from the media but pledged to comply with all legal proceedings.

“Gus Yaqut understands that the measure taken by the KPK is part of the necessary legal process,” Anna said, calling on the public to await the investigation results “without prejudice” and to allow law enforcement to work professionally.