Immigration Services Unaffected by Legal Case Under KPK Investigation
The Directorate General of Immigration at the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections has assured that public services remain optimal following a sting operation conducted by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) involving a number of immigration officials. Director General of Immigration Hendarsam Marantoko stated that the agency understands the public’s concerns regarding the impact of the case and has therefore carried out comprehensive internal reinforcement to ensure the public’s rights to immigration services are not disturbed. He apologised for the discomfort arising from the situation but assured all segments of society, including foreign nationals, that immigration services continue to run normally and optimally. He confirmed that both digital-based and face-to-face service systems are operating optimally without delays.
Following the KPK’s official announcement regarding the suspect status and detention of several immigration officials, the Directorate General of Immigration deactivated the officials in question on Thursday (4/6). The immigration officials currently undergoing legal proceedings at the KPK include the Head of the Class I Special Non-TPI Immigration Office for West Jakarta, Ronald Arman Abdullah; the Head of the West Java Regional Office of the Directorate General of Immigration, Jaya Saputra, who previously served as Director of Stay Permits and Immigration Status for the 2024-2025 period; and the Acting Director General of Immigration for the 2024-2025 period, Saffar Muhammad Godam. Also involved is the Deputy Minister of Immigration and Corrections, Silmy Karim, who surrendered to the KPK on Wednesday (3/6). Four others are Sub-directorate Heads at the Directorate of Stay Permits and Immigration Status, Tessar Bayu Setyaji and Bagus Bramantyo, ITAS Status Transfer Team Leader Juniadi Sri Priambudi, and Stay Permit Sub-directorate staff member Gusti Benardiansyah.
Hendarsam stressed that the agency immediately took a number of tactical steps as a commitment to law enforcement, respecting the KPK’s efforts in eradicating corruption. He said the employees under investigation have been deactivated so that they can focus on the legal process while also ensuring public services remain optimal. He added that his party had directly filled the vacant positions affected to ensure administrative tasks and strategic functions run without hindrance, appointing acting officials to immediately fill the positions of technical officers currently undergoing legal proceedings to avoid stagnation in decision-making or task execution in the field. Previously, between 2 and 3 June 2026, the KPK conducted a sting operation related to alleged corruption in processing residency permits for foreign nationals, such as Permanent Stay Permit Cards (KITAP) or Limited Stay Permit Cards (KITAS). During the operation, the KPK arrested 17 people consisting of eight state administrators or civil servants and nine private parties acting as intermediaries in the processing of immigration documents. On 4 June 2026, Silmy Karim, Saffar Muhammad Godam, Jaya Saputra, Ronald Arman Abdullah, and four others officially became suspects and were detained by the KPK after appearing in the anti-corruption agency’s orange vests. They were named suspects in a case of alleged extortion in the processing of foreign nationals’ stay permits during 2022–2026 within the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, which later shifted to the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections. They are suspected of amassing IDR 145.5 billion during that period.