Ex-Labor Ministry Secretary-General Named Ninth Suspect in Foreign Worker Extortion Case
Jakarta. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named Heri Sudarmanto, the former Secretary-General of the Manpower Ministry, as the ninth suspect in an alleged extortion scheme targeting foreign nationals applying for work permits.
The case, which investigators say caused state losses of around Rp 85 billion ($5 million), involves multiple senior officials from the ministry.
“In developing this investigation, KPK has named one additional suspect, HS, the former secretary-general of the Ministry of Manpower,” KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo told reporters on Wednesday.
Budi did not elaborate on Heri’s specific role in the scheme, but said further details would be announced once the investigation progresses.
KPK had earlier detained eight suspects, accusing them of collecting illegal payments from 2019 to 2024 by exploiting the ministry’s foreign worker permit system.
According to investigators, the suspects deliberately withheld or delayed permit approvals, forcing applicants to pay unofficial fees through designated intermediaries. Applicants who refused reportedly had their applications stalled indefinitely.
Once payments were agreed upon, ministry officials provided specific bank account details to receive the funds, the KPK said.
Earlier Arrests
The eight previously charged officials include:
- Suhartono, Director General of Manpower Placement and Employment Expansion (2020–2023)
- Haryanto, Director of Foreign Worker Permit Control (PPTKA) (2019–2024), Director General of Manpower Placement and Employment Expansion (2024–2025), and Ministerial Expert Staff for International Relations (2025)
- Wisnu Pramono, Director of PPTKA (2017–2019)
- Devi Angraeni, Director of PPTKA (2024–2025)
- Gatot Widiartono, Coordinator Analyst at PPTKA (2021–2025)
- Putri Citra Wahyoe, Foreign Worker Permit Hotline Officer (2019–2024), Permit Application Document Verifier (2024–2025)
- Jamal Shodiqin, Analyst at PPTKA (2019–2024), PPTKA Supervisor (2024–2025)
- Alfa Eshad, Supervisor at the Ministry of Manpower (2018–2025)
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