Government Supports KPK in Cleaning Up Immigration Sector from Corruption

Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra has affirmed that the government is cooperative and fully supports the eradication of corruption in the immigration sector. Yusril expressed deep concern over the legal case currently being handled by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) regarding alleged irregularities in immigration services. “This case has ensnared Deputy Minister of Immigration and Corrections Silmy Karim, the Head of the West Jakarta Special Class I Immigration Office, as well as a number of officials and employees within the Directorate General of Immigration,” Yusril said when confirmed in Jakarta on Thursday. Amidst the major commitment of President Prabowo Subianto’s administration to create a clean and corruption-free bureaucracy, Yusril conveyed that this incident is both a slap in the face and a serious challenge that must be faced firmly and transparently. At a time when the government is aggressively proclaiming a clean bureaucracy, Yusril did not expect corrupt practices in the immigration sector to still be uncovered. This has therefore become a significant challenge for the government to tighten supervision and enforce the law indiscriminately, in line with the President’s directives. Based on initial investigations, Yusril clarified that the alleged legal case charged against Silmy Karim occurred between 2023 and 2024. “At that time, the individual concerned was still carrying out the mandate as Director General of Immigration, so the case is not related to his new capacity or position as deputy minister,” he revealed. Previously, the KPK suspected Silmy Karim of receiving money from extortion since serving as Director General of Immigration at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights from January 2023 to October 2024. “The money was received while the individual was serving as Director General,” said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo at the KPK’s Red and White Building, Jakarta, Thursday (4/6). Budi stated that Silmy Karim and seven other suspects in the alleged extortion case within the Directorate General of Immigration are estimated to have received up to hundreds of billions of rupiah from extortion. However, Budi said the KPK would only be able to convey details on the matter at a press conference planned for Thursday afternoon. Setyo stated that the investigation into the case was also supported by financial transaction report data from the PPATK. He urged all parties to wait for the legal process to run its course until the dossier is declared to have sufficient evidence to be tested in court. Based on the State Officials’ Wealth Report (LHKPN), Silmy Karim had a total wealth of IDR 234.59 billion in the 2025 reporting period. The KPK officially detained eight suspects in the corruption case at the Directorate General of Immigration, including Deputy Minister of Immigration and Corrections Silmy Karim, related to alleged extortion and document gratuities.