Immigration graft suspects allegedly panicked, bought gold as KPK probed foreign worker case
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) suspects that suspects in an alleged extortion case within the Directorate General of Immigration panicked when the anti-corruption agency began investigating alleged extortion related to the processing of Foreign Worker Utilisation Plans (RPTKA) at the Ministry of Manpower.
“When the RPTKA case at the Ministry of Manpower was being handled by the KPK in 2025 and came to light, these parties allegedly panicked and immediately withdrew several sums of money,” stated KPK Chairman Setyo Budiyanto at the KPK Red and White Building, Jakarta, on Thursday.
Setyo noted that the immigration case suspects subsequently withdrew money from several accounts held under the names of other individuals. “The withdrawal process was likely gradual because it utilised nominees and other people’s names,” he said.
Following this, the KPK suspects that the immigration suspects used the withdrawn funds to purchase various amounts of gold. According to him, the gold was even used to purchase immovable assets.
“Usually, transactions for purchasing immovable property use Rupiah, involving bank transfers and similar methods. However, in this instance, gold pieces were used,” he added.
Previously, between 2–3 June 2026, the KPK conducted a sting operation (OTT) regarding alleged corruption in the processing of residence permits for foreign nationals, such as Permanent Stay Permits (KITAP) or Limited Stay Permits (KITAS). This operation was noted as the 11th such operation during 2026.
During the operation, the KPK arrested 17 individuals, consisting of eight state officials or civil servants, and nine private parties acting as intermediaries in the processing of immigration documents. Several of the 17 include the Head of the Special Class I Immigration Office Non-TPI West Jakarta, Ronald Arman Abdullah; the Head of the West Java Immigration Regional Office, Jaya Saputra, who previously served as the Director of Stay Permits and Immigration Status for the period of November 2024–October 2025; and the Acting Director General of Immigration for the period of October 2024–April 2025, Saffar Muhammad Godam.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of Immigration and Correctional Services, Silmy Karim, surrendered himself to the KPK on 3 June 2026.
On 4 June 2026, Silmy Karim (SK), Saffar Muhammad Godam (SMG), Jaya Saputra (JS), Ronald Arman Abdullah (RAA), and four others officially became suspects and detainees of the KPK, appearing in the anti-corruption agency’s orange vests. The four others include the Heads of Sub-directorate at the Directorate of Stay Permits and Immigration Status, Tessar Bayu Setyaji (TBS) and Bagus Bramantyo (BGS), the Head of the ITAS Status Change Team, Juniadi Sri Priambudi (JSP), and a Sub-directorate Staff member, Gusti Benardiansyah (GST).
They have been designated as suspects by the KPK for alleged extortion in the processing of foreign national stay permits between 2022 and 2026, which occurred within the Ministry of Law and Human Rights and transitioned to the Ministry of Immigration and Correctional Services. The group is alleged to have amassed Rp145.5 billion during that period.