Immigration Sting: KPK Holds Case Review to Determine Status of 17 Individuals Including Senior Officials
The Corruption Eradasting Commission (KPK) has begun determining the legal status of 17 individuals caught in a sting operation (OTT) within the Directorate General of Immigration, under the Ministry of Immigration and Correctional Services. A case review was conducted on Wednesday night (3/6) to establish which individuals will be named suspects in the immigration-related operation.
KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo confirmed that the purpose of the review is to dissect the role of each party and determine the specific articles violated, regarding allegations of both bribery and extortion. “Tonight, the KPK is conducting an exposé to establish the legal status of the detained parties. We invite all parties to await the official results regarding those designated as suspects and the applicable charges,” Boded said at the KPK Juang Building, Jakarta.
The covert operation, which has been underway since Tuesday (2/6) night, marks the 11th sting operation conducted by the KPK in 2026. The focus of the investigation pertains to alleged malpractice in the processing of stay permits for foreign nationals, specifically Permanent Stay Permits (KITAP) and Limited Stay Permits (KITAS).
As of Wednesday night, 17 people have been detained, consisting of eight state officials or Civil Servants (ASN) and nine private sector individuals suspected of acting as intermediaries or brokers for immigration documents. In addition to the detentions, the KPK announced it is currently searching for the Deputy Minister of Immigration and Correctional Services, Silmy Karim.
This step is part of the ongoing development of the operation, which originated at the Class I Non-TPI Immigration Office in West Jakarta. Investigators are currently deepening their probe into the involvement of various parties within the bureaucratic chain of immigration document processing, which is suspected of being a site for illegal levies and bribery.
The KPK is also searching for Silmy Karim in relation to the operation, with allegations of involvement during his tenure as Director General of Immigration for the 2023-2024 period. The anti-corruption agency has urged Karim to cooperate and surrender himself to the KPK’s Merah Putih Building in Jakarta. During the operation, the KPK also seized hundreds of grams of gold, foreign currency, and 33 vehicles. The Minister of Immigration and Correctional Services, Agus Andrianto, and the Director General of Immigration stated they were unaware of the Deputy Minister’s whereabouts following the announcement.