Immigration Officials Collected Rp 145 Billion in Extortion Scheme Targeting Foreign Nationals: KPK
Jakarta. Indonesian immigration officials arrested in a major corruption investigation collected at least Rp 145.5 billion ($8 million) through an alleged extortion scheme targeting foreign nationals seeking residency permits, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said on Thursday.
KPK Chairman Setyo Budiyanto said the illicit funds were accumulated over the past five years and traced through multiple bank accounts identified by the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK), whose findings helped trigger the investigation.
Among those charged is Deputy Immigration and Corrections Minister Silmy Karim, who investigators allege received regular payments from the scheme.
“The money was distributed every Friday to individuals within the Directorate General of Immigration. One of them, identified as SK, received a regular allocation of Rp 100 million per week,” Setyo said, referring to Silmy.
“Between 2022 and 2026, officials within the Directorate General of Immigration received funds either directly or through layered transactions totaling at least Rp 145.5 billion,” he added.
According to investigators, participants in the scheme used coded language to disguise the flow of funds. Senior officials receiving payments were allegedly referred to as “angels,” while other recipients were identified through terms such as “band” or “singer” payments.
Setyo said the KPK’s investigation in collaboration with PPATK had also uncovered a much larger pool of suspicious funds linked to immigration-related services, including visas, passports, foreign worker permits, and residency applications.
The total value of those transactions reached Rp 357 billion, he said.
The KPK has named eight suspects in the case:
- Deputy Immigration and Corrections Minister Silmy Karim
- Former Immigration Director General Saffar Muhammad Godam
- West Java Regional Immigration Office Chief Jaya Saputra
- Residency Permit Official Tessar Bayu Setyaji
- Residency Permit Official Bagus Bramantyo
- West Jakarta Immigration Office Chief Ronald Arman Abdullah
- Limited Stay Permit Team Head Juniadi Sri Priambudi
- Immigration Staff Member Gusti Benardiansyah
Earlier, KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo said the number of suspects could increase as investigators continue tracing financial flows and identifying individuals who may have benefited from the alleged scheme.
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Deputy Immigration Minister Silmy Karim Detained in Foreign Residency Permit Corruption Case
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