Concert-Style Codes Used to Conceal Illicit Payments for Silmy Karim and Accomplices
The KPK has uncovered the use of codes reminiscent of music concerts to disguise the distribution of funds involving the suspects in the extortion and gratification case involving the Deputy Minister of Immigration and Correctional Services, Silmy Karim and others. The gang used terms such as ‘vocalist’ and ‘guitarist’ to mask the allocation of money.
‘Other codes used music concert payment terms, for instance, the vocalist receives a certain amount, the guitarist receives another, the backing vocals receive a specific portion, and the choreographer receives a certain amount, thereby using these codes to differentiate and determine the flow of money to specific parties,’ stated KPK Chairman Setyapo Budiyanto during a press conference at the KPK building in Jakarta.
It is reported that the funds were used by the parties involved for personal interests, the purchase of assets, and business activities, such as establishing a towing company, to disguise the receipt of the money.
Silmy Karim is currently officially detained by the KPK. In addition to Silmy, seven other individuals have also been named as suspects. Silmy and his accomplices are facing charges of extortion and gratification. Investigators have also seized various pieces of evidence, including foreign currency in the form of US Dollars and Singapore Dollars, as well as precious metals and several vehicles.
A total of eight individuals have been detained in this case, including Silmy Karim. The list of detainees includes:
Deputy Minister of Immigration and Correctional Services 2025-2026 and Director General of Immigration and Correctional Services 2023-2024, Silmy Karim (SK);
Acting Director General of Immigration 2024-2025, Saffar Muhammad Godam (SMG);
Director of Stay Permits and Immigration Status, Directorate General of Immigration, Jaya Saputra (JS);
Head of Sub-directorate for Change of Stay Permit Status, Directorate of Stay Permits and Immigration Status, Directorate General of Immigration, Tessar Bayu Setyaji (TBS);
Head of Sub-directorate in the Directorate of Stay Permits, Bagus Bramantyo (BGS);
Head of Central Jakarta Immigration Office 2024-2025 and Head of Class I Special Non-TPI Jakarta West Immigration Office 2025-2026, Ronald Arman Abdullah (RAA);
Leader of the ITAS Status Change Team, Juniadi Sri Priambud (JSP);
Staff of the Stay Permit Sub-directorate, Gusti Benardiansyah (GST).