KPK: Immigration Officials Used Third-Party Accounts to Facilitate Extortion

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has disclosed that Gusti Bernardiansyah (GST), a staff member of the Sub-directorate of Stay Permits at the Ministry of Immigration and Correctional Services, utilised accounts held in the names of others to collect money extorted during the processing of foreign nationals’ stay permits.

“GST allegedly utilised several nominee accounts as collection accounts to hold fees derived from the processing of temporary stay permits, sourced from sponsors, as well as service agencies or sponsors managing the processes for foreign nationals,” stated KPK Chairman Setyo Budiyanto at the KPK Merah Putih Building in Jakarta on Thursday.

According to Setyo, data from the Indonesian Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) indicates that these collection accounts were held under the names of family members, relatives, and even cleaning staff or office attendants. “Therefore, they did not use their own accounts, but rather several other accounts,” he added.

Previously, on 3 June 2026, the KPK confirmed it had conducted a sting operation (OTT) at the Class I Special Non-TPI Immigration Office in West Jakarta. This marked the 11th such operation recorded in 2026. The operation was linked to allegations of irregularities in the processing of foreign national stay permits, such as Permanent Stay Permits (KITAP) and Limited Stay Permits (KITAS).

During the operation conducted between 2–3 June 2026, the KPK arrested 17 individuals, comprising eight state officials or civil servants and nine private parties acting as intermediaries in the processing of immigration documents.

Furthermore, 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, along with Saffar Muhammad Godam, Jaya Saputra, Ronald Arman Abdullah, and four others, were officially named suspects and detained by the KPK, appearing in the anti-corruption agency’s signature orange vests. The remaining four suspects include the Heads of Sub-directorate within the Directorate of Stay Permits and Immigration Status, Tessar Bayu Setyaji and Bagus Bramantyo, the Head of the ITAS Status Change Team, Juniadi Sri Priambudi, and Stay Permit Sub-directorate staff, Gusti Bernardiansyah.