KPK: Immigration Case Systemic, Extortion Occurred from Central to Regional Levels
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) assesses that the alleged extortion cases occurring within the Directorate General of Immigration are systemic, with criminal activities taking place not only at the central level but also in regional offices.
“In the regions, specifically at the immigration offices, requests are also being made,” stated KPK Chairman Setylo Budiyanto at the KPK Red and White Building, Jakarta, on Thursday.
Consequently, he noted that during the sting operation (OTT) conducted between 2–3 June 2026, the KPK did not only target officials at the central or ministerial level.
“That is why the activities yesterday were not limited to Jakarta, but also took place in several other locations,” he said.
Furthermore, the KPK views the alleged extortion within the Immigration Department as systemic because there is a chain of command flowing from top-level officials downwards, paired with a flow of money from lower ranks to the top.
“The command process is top-down, while the money or the collection process is bottom-up. The funds are collected at the lower levels using various nominee accounts, such as those belonging to office boys, cleaning services, or relatives,” he explained.
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.
Among the 17 individuals are the Head of the Special Class I Immigration Office Non-TPI 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 the Director of Stay Permits and Immigration Status from November 2024 to October 2025; and the Acting Director General of Immigration for the period of October 2024 to April 2025, Saffar Muhammad Godam.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of Immigration and Correctional Services, Silmy Karim, surrendered himself by reporting 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 were officially named suspects and detained by the KPK, appearing in the anti-corruption agency’s signature orange vests.
The four other suspects include the Heads of Sub-directorate within 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 for Stay Permits, Gusti Benardiansyah (GST).
They have been designated as suspects by the KPK in relation to alleged extortion in the processing of foreign national stay permits between 2022 and 2026. The activities occurred within the Ministry of Law and Human Rights and transitioned to the Ministry of Immigration and Correctional Services. The suspects are alleged to have amassed Rp145.5 billion during that period.