Jakarta. The trial of eight former officials from Indonesia’s Ministry of Manpower began on Friday, with prosecutors accusing them of systematically extorting foreign workers and their employers during the permit application process between 2017 and 2025.

Prosecutors told the Central Jakarta District Court that the defendants abused their authority over work permit approvals for foreign nationals, forcing employers or labor permit agents to make illegal payments. The total proceeds from the alleged extortion reached Rp 135.29 billion ($8.1 million), with varying amounts attributed to each defendant.

“They misused their power by coercing employers or foreign manpower permit agents to provide payments or other benefits, with total proceeds amounting to Rp 135.29 billion,” the prosecution team said while reading out the indictment.

In addition to cash payments, several defendants are accused of receiving bribes in the form of vehicles. Prosecutors said the extortion scheme was carried out collectively and in a structured manner, enriching the defendants individually.

The defendants and the amounts allegedly received, according to prosecutors, are as follows:

Suhartono, Director General of Foreign Manpower Placement from 2020 to 2023, is accused of receiving Rp 460 million.

1. Haryanto, Director General of Foreign Manpower Placement from 2024 to 2025, allegedly received Rp 84.7 billion and a Toyota Innova vehicle.
2. Wisnu Pramono, Director of Foreign Manpower Placement from 2017 to 2019, is accused of receiving Rp 25.1 billion and a Vespa Primavera motorcycle.
3. Devi Angraeni, Director of Foreign Manpower Placement from 2024 to 2025, allegedly received Rp 3.25 billion.
4. Gatot Widiartono, Coordinator of Labor Placement Analysts from 2021 to 2025, is accused of receiving Rp 9.47 billion.
5. Putri Citra Wahyoe, a hotline officer from 2019 to 2024 and labor placement verifier from 2024 to 2025, allegedly received Rp 6.39 billion.
6. Jamal Shodiqin, a labor placement analyst from 2019 to 2024, is accused of receiving Rp 551.1 million.
7. Alfa Eshad, a labor placement analyst from 2018 to 2025, allegedly received Rp 5.23 billion.

The court adjourned after the reading of the indictments, with the trial set to continue with the defendants’ responses and examination of evidence in the coming sessions.