Ex-Hajj Director General Hilman Latief Admits Receiving 15,000 Riyals and Tens of Thousands of Dollars from Maktour Boss

Former Director General of Hajj and Umrah Organization at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Hilman Latief, admitted he had received money in foreign currency from Ismail Adham, Operational Director of PT Makassar Toraja (Maktour). The admission was made while he testified in the trial of the alleged corruption case involving the 2023-2024 additional hajj quota at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court on Thursday (24/9/2026).

In the hearing held to examine evidence, prosecutors from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) showed a sum of money seized by investigators. One item was several 500 Saudi riyal notes. Hilman said the money came from Ismail, handed over in an envelope at the Ministry of Religious Affairs office in 2025, after a change of minister and ahead of the hajj departure. When asked about the amount, he initially mentioned 16,000 riyals, then confirmed the figure of around 15,000 riyals.

Prosecutors then showed another piece of evidence: dozens of 100 US dollar notes. Hilman stated the money was also linked to Ismail. He recounted that after the 2025 hajj season, Ismail invited him to meet to discuss hajj matters. "At that time I asked him to come to the office, but he could not. At one point we met in Jeddah and discussed hajj issues, especially the hajj case," Hilman said, as quoted from the hearing.

Hilman's testimony is one of the key moments in the trial examining the alleged corruption of the additional hajj quota. The case has raised suspicions that hajj travel service providers sought to influence policymaking officials to gain certain access or advantages. Previously, in the same trial, several witnesses were also pressed about the flow of expedited hajj fees and the distribution of special hajj fees. This pattern points to alleged bribery and gratification involving officials and travel entrepreneurs.

For the Indonesian public, especially Muslims who are prospective hajj pilgrims, this case highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in managing the hajj quota. The additional hajj quota from Saudi Arabia should be allocated fairly and based on applicable regulations, not through shadowy transactions. If the corruption allegation is proven, the impact will not only be on the reputation of the Ministry of Religious Affairs but also on public trust in the hajj process, which has long been considered sacred.

Moreover, for hajj and umrah travel businesses, this case is a warning that approaching officials with certain rewards can lead to legal sanctions. The investment climate in the religious tourism sector could also be affected if hajj governance is not improved. The government needs to ensure that the hajj quota system, including the additional quota, is managed with the principles of good governance, free from interference by business interests.

"At that time I asked him to come to the office, but he could not. At one point we met in Jeddah and discussed hajj issues, especially the hajj case."

— Hilman Latief, former Director General of Hajj and Umrah Organization

Going forward, the trial will continue with the agenda of hearing other witnesses, including possible testimony from Maktour and other Ministry of Religious Affairs officials. The question is whether Hilman's admission will become an entry point for uncovering a wider corruption network, or whether it will stop with him. The public is waiting to see whether the KPK can complete this case to its roots, while also fixing the hajj management system so that it is no longer fertile ground for rent-seeking practices.