KPK: KITAS Has Been a Corridor for Corruption from 2022 Until Now
The Corruption Eradification Commission (KPK) has announced an alleged extortion case regarding the processing of foreign national residence permits within the Directorate General of Immigration. The case, which implicates the Deputy Minister of Immigration and Correctional Services, Silmy Karim, reportedly took place between 2022 and 2026.
“The period of the alleged offences spans from 2022 to 2026,” stated KPK Chairman Setyo Budiyanto at the KPK Red and White Building in Jakarta on Thursday (4/6). Consequently, Setyo noted that the case occurred while the Directorate General of Immigration was still under the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, before transitioning to the Ministry of Immigration and Correctional Services.
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 operation was noted as the 11th such operation carried out in 2026. The sting was linked to the alleged irregular processing of foreign national residence permits, specifically Permanent Stay Permits (KITAP) and Limited Stay Permits (KITAS).
During the operations conducted between 2-3 June 2026, 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 detainees were the Head of the Class I Special Non-TPI Immigration Office West Jakarta, Ronald Arman Abdullah; the Head of the West Java Regional Immigration Office, Jaya Saputra, who previously served as Director of Stay Permits and Immigration Status from November 202lar-October 2025; and the Acting Director General of Immigration for the period of October 2024 to April 2025, Saffar Muhammad Godam.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Immigration and Correctional Services Silmy Karim surrendered himself to the KPK on 3 June 2026. On 4 June 2026, Silmy Karim, 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 four other suspects include Sub-directorate Heads within the Directorate of Stay Permits and Immigration Status, Tessar Bayu Setyaji and Bagus Bramantyo, the KITAS Status Change Team Leader Juniadi Sri Priambudi, and a staff member of the Stay Permit Sub-directorate, Gusti Benardiansyah.
Setyo stated that the KPK suspects Silmy Karim began demanding illegal shares during his tenure as the Director General of Immigration under the Ministry of Law and Human Rights between 2023 and 2024. The KPK uncovered these bribery practices involving the Head of the West Jakarta Immigration Office during the sting operation.
Setyo added that the investigation is supported by financial transaction data from the Indonesian Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK). He urged all parties to await the legal process until the case files are deemed sufficient for trial.
According to the State Officials’ Wealth Report (LHKPN), Silmy Karim reported total assets of Rp234.59 billion for the 2025 reporting period.