Several organizers of hajj travel agencies revealed various practices related to the management of additional hajj quotas during a corruption trial concerning the 2023–2024 hajj quotas at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court (Tipikor) on Tuesday (13/10/2024). During the trial, testimonies revealed payments of expedited departure fees amounting to thousands of US dollars per pilgrim, the misuse of hajj staff quotas to send regular pilgrims, and refunds issued after the case became public.
Testimonies from travel organizers also uncovered the involvement of Ridwan Kurniawan, a former staff member at the Registration Section of the Directorate General of Hajj and Umrah at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, who was said to assist in managing the administration of pilgrim departures. Payment of 6,000 US dollars per pilgrim The President Director of PT Al Muchtar Tour & Travel, Mahmud Muchtar Syarif, admitted to paying a fee of 6,000 US dollars per pilgrim to Ridwan Kurniawan for hajj departures in 2023.
This payment was related to 28 pilgrims who had just received their registration numbers and departed the same year. Mahmud stated that the departure of these pilgrims was initially planned to utilize furoda visas. However, while in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he was contacted by Ridwan who offered him a departure quota. “At first, it was indeed furoda. Suddenly, while I was in Saudi in Riyadh, I was called by Mr. Ridwan Kurniawan to be offered,” said Mahmud. When the prosecutor confirmed the fee amount, Mahmud acknowledged the payment of 6,000 US dollars multiplied by 28 pilgrims.
During the same trial, Mahmud also disclosed similar payments for 86 pilgrims from Cahaya Madinah Makassar. He confirmed that each pilgrim was charged a fee of 6,000 US dollars, and that money was given to Ridwan. Mahmud claimed he did not know the detailed mechanism for managing the quota. He stated that Ridwan handled all administrative needs, including the creation of documents. “Ridwan made all of it. All the letters were made by Ridwan. Just pay him,” said Mahmud.
source: Kompas
