KPK Responds to Silmy Karim's Pre-trial Motion Over Evidence Seizure

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has responded to a pre-trial motion filed by former Deputy Minister of Immigration and Corrections Silmy Karim to test the legality of the seizure of evidence.

The seizure of the evidence relates to a case of alleged extortion of foreign nationals’ residence permits and/or gratification between 2022 and 2026, in which Silmy has been named a suspect.

KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo said the commission respects the pre-trial motion filed by Silmy. He said every party has the right to test the actions of law enforcement officials.

Budi assured that the seizures carried out by the KPK complied with the applicable criminal procedure law.

“Nevertheless, we assure you that every stage of the investigation in this case has been carried out in accordance with the applicable criminal procedure law. This includes the execution of seizures, where investigators worked with attention to both formal and material aspects, ensuring every action has a legal basis and accountable procedures,” Budi told reporters on Tuesday (8/9).

Silmy Karim’s pre-trial motion was registered on Friday, 4 September 2026 at the South Jakarta District Court under case number 163/Pid.Pra/2026/PN Jkt.Sel.

The first hearing is scheduled for Monday, 14 September 2026. Budi confirmed that the KPK will explain every investigative action in the pre-trial hearing based on evidence and applicable legal provisions.

“Accordingly, the KPK is ready to face and explain every investigative action in the pre-trial hearing objectively, openly, and based on evidence and applicable legal provisions. The KPK does not want law enforcement to be built on perceptions, but rather on facts and legal mechanisms that can be tested,” Budi said.

Budi also invited the public to help safeguard the transparency of the legal process. According to him, the case implicating Silmy carries strong public interest dimensions because it relates to the public services sector, particularly services for foreign nationals.

“This case has strong public interest dimensions because it relates to the public services sector. Services for foreign nationals are part of the face of state services that must be administered professionally, with integrity, and free from corrupt practices,” Budi said.

Beyond public interest, Budi considered the case also touches on Indonesia’s image in the eyes of the international community. According to Budi, alleged corrupt practices in this sector could affect the integrity of service providers, public trust, and Indonesia’s credibility in the eyes of the international community.

“Indonesia’s gates of entry must not become gateways for corrupt practices. Public services must be the face of the state’s integrity, not a transactional space that damages the trust of the public and the international community,” Budi said.

The KPK assured that the investigation into the case will continue to run professionally and independently.

The KPK has named Silmy Karim and seven other individuals as suspects in the alleged extortion of foreign nationals’ residence permits and/or gratification between 2022 and 2026.

The other suspects are the Acting Director-General of Immigration for the 2024-2025 period, Saffar Muhammad Godam; Director of Residence Permits Jaya Saputra; and Heads of Sub-Directorate at the Directorate of Residence Permits Bagus Bramantyo and Tessar Bayu Setyaji.

Also named are Head of the Central Jakarta Immigration Office for 2024-2025 and Head of the West Jakarta Immigration Office for 2025-2026, Ronald Arman Abdullah; Head of the Limited Stay Permit (ITAS) Status Transfer Team Juniadi Sri Priambudi; and staff member of the Residence Permits Sub-Directorate Gusti Bernardiansyah.

They have all been detained at the KPK’s detention house.

The suspects are alleged to have violated Article 12 letter e and/or Article 12B of the Law on the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption in conjunction with Article 20 letter c of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code (KUHP).

In handling this case, the KPK has seized a number of assets worth approximately Rp150 billion.