Preacher Khalid Basalamah to testify in Indonesian Hajj quota corruption trial
Travel agency owner and preacher Khalid Zeed Abdullah Basalamah is due to give sworn testimony at the Jakarta corruption trial of former religious affairs minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.
JAKARTA — Preacher Khalid Zeed Abdullah Basalamah was due to testify on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, at the Central Jakarta District Court in a corruption case over Hajj quotas, according to Republika and Antara.
Prosecutors from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said Khalid would give sworn testimony for all four defendants. The defendants are former religious affairs minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, Ishfah Abidal Aziz, also known as Gus Alex, Ismail Adham and Asrul Aziz Taba.
Khalid owns PT Zahra Oto Mandiri, also known as Uhud Tour, a Hajj travel company. He had earlier asked for a new date after failing to attend a hearing on Thursday, 8 October, Antara reported.
Prosecutors had planned to call two witnesses in the first cluster. Businessman Umar Abdul Aziz, also known as Umar Bakadam, could not attend because he was reported to be in hospital, according to Republika. Prosecutors said they learned of his condition only the night before the hearing.
Deputy Finance Director of the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH), Irwanto, also appeared. Prosecutors said six other witnesses would be examined face to face.
The presiding judge asked how the examination of Umar Bakadam would proceed.
Prosecutors allege that Yaqut caused state losses of Rp622.09 billion by setting the 2024 additional special-quota split at 50 percent without a technical study, according to Antara. Antara reported that the indictment also cites special-quota additions for 2023 and 2024 that did not follow set procedures. Yaqut has been charged under the national criminal code and the anti-corruption law.
Background
KPK has questioned Khalid several times in its investigation into alleged corruption in setting Hajj quotas and running the Hajj at the Ministry of Religious Affairs for 2023 to 2024, Antara reported. Investigators have asked about the money he handed to the agency during the process, the report said.
Antara also reported that the indictment names Yaqut's former special staff member, Gus Alex, and Maktour operations director Ismail Adham. Asrul Aziz Taba is the former chairman of the Kesatuan Tour Travel Haji Umrah RI association.
Sources
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