Corruption Modus Operandi in Silmy Karim Case: Applicants Hindered, Additional Fees Imposed

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has outlined the modus operandi employed in a corruption case related to the processing of stay permits for foreign nationals. Individuals allegedly obstructed the permit application process, imposing additional fees for applications to be processed. In this case, the KPK has named Deputy Minister of Immigration and Corrections Silmy Karim as a suspect in an alleged extortion case involving immigration document processing and gratuity acceptance in the handling of stay permits for foreign nationals. Alongside Silmy, at least seven current and former officials and staff of the Directorate General of Immigration have been named as suspects. KPK Chairman Setyo Budianto explained that Silmy, who served as Director General of Immigration from 2023 to 2024, allegedly carried out extortion by ‘demanding a cut’ from the processing of stay permits for foreign nationals. He described how foreign national applicants seeking stay permits were obstructed, thus being forced to pay additional fees. ‘In practice, the stay permit application process was made difficult and always rejected. Applicants were forced to pay additional fees at the verification counter at the regional Immigration office, and again to pay for verification at the Directorate General of Immigration (headquarters) so that the applicants would be processed,’ said Setyo during a press conference on Thursday (4/6/2026). This illustrates unlawful acts in the alleged criminal act of extortion corruption, carried out systemically, from the flow of top-down orders to the bottom-up flow of money or deposits. It was discovered in this case that funds flowed through 96 bank accounts with a total value reaching Rp 366.7 billion. Of this total flow, approximately Rp 9.7 billion, or about 3%, came from salaries and allowances. Meanwhile, the remaining Rp 357 billion, or 97%, was allegedly sourced from applicants for immigration services, such as visas, passports, manpower, and stay permits. The KPK revealed that during the period from 2022 to 2026, parties within the Directorate General of Immigration and Corrections and the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections received money amounting to at least Rp 145.5 billion. ‘The money was then distributed to individuals within the Directorate General of Immigration and Corrections and the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections every Friday, with suspect SK estimated to have received a regular cut of Rp 100 million per week,’ revealed Setyo.