Alleged Role of Silmy in Immigration: From Demanding Shares to Regular Distributions
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has revealed the alleged role of the inactive Deputy Minister of Immigration and Correctional Services, Silmy Karim (SK), in a case involving alleged extortion and gratification regarding the processing of stay permits for Foreign Nationals (WNA) in Indonesia.
KPK Chairman Setyo Budiyanto stated that the case originated from a report by the Indonesian Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK), which identified fund flows into 96 accounts belonging to 35 employees of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights—which has since been split into the Ministry of Immigration and Correctional Services, the Ministry of Law, and the Ministry of Human Rights. The total transaction volume reached Rp366.7 billion.
However, of that amount, only 3 per cent originated from salaries, while the remaining Rp357 billion came from parties applying for immigration services, such as visas, passports, labour permits, and stay permits.
According to Setyo, during the investigation, the KPK alleged that Silmy, who served as the Director General of Immigration during 2023-2024, engaged in extortion by ‘demanding a share’ from the processing of foreign nationals’ stay permits through Jaya Saputra (JS), the Director of Stay Permits at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights.
‘During the investigation process, SK, the Deputy Minister of Immigration and Correctional Services for 2025-2026, who was the Director General of Immigration in 2023-2024, allegedly committed extortion by demanding a share from the processing of foreign nationals’ stay permits through JS as the Director of Stay Permits,’ Setyo said during a press conference at the KPK Building, Jakarta, on Thursday (4/6).
In the process, Setyo noted that Jaya ordered two subordinates, Bagus Bramantyo (BGS) and Tessar Bayu Setyaji (TBS), to collect extra fees from foreign nationals wishing to reside in Indonesia. Bagus and Tessar served as Sub-Directors in the Directorate of Stay Permits under the Ministry of Law and Human Rights. Later, both also instructed their subordinate, Gusti Bernardiansyah, to assist in the processing.
‘For every stay permit application document processed, there was a price for every click,’ Setyo added.
The KPK stated that between 2022 and 2026, the parties involved received no less than Rp145.5 billion, either directly or through intermediaries. This money was then distributed to several parties, including Silmy Karim, who allegedly received a regular share of Rp100 million every week.
‘The money was distributed to officials within the Directorate General of Immigration/Ministry of Immigration every Friday; one of them, Mr. SK, received a regular share of Rp100 million per week,’ he said.
The KPK officially named Silmy as a suspect in the case this Thursday. The KPK has also charged the former Acting Director General of Immigration for 2024-2025, Saffar Muhammad Godam (SMG); the Head of the West Java Regional Office of the Directorate General of Immigration, Jaya Saputra (JS); the Sub-Director of Stay Permit Status Change, Tessar Bayu Setyaji (TBS); the Sub-Director of the Directorate of Stay Permits, Bagus Bramantyo (BGS); the Head of the Class I Special Non-TPI Immigration Office of West Jakarta for 2025-2026, Ronald Arman Abdullah (RAA); the Leader of the ITAS Status Change Team, Juniadi Sri Priambudi (JSP); and Stay Permit Sub-Directorate Staff, Gusti Bernardiansyah (GST).
The designation of suspects follows a sting operation (OTT) conducted in West Jakarta on 2-3 June 2026. During the operation, the KPK seized at least four cars, nine motorcycles, and seven bicycles. Additionally, foreign currencies, including Singapore Dollars and US Dollars, as well as gold bullion, were also confiscated by the KPK.