KPK Reveals 'Click' Money Term in Foreigner Residence Permit Extortion Case Involving Silmy Karim

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has examined six witnesses in connection with an alleged extortion case involving residence permits for foreign nationals, which has ensnared Deputy Minister of Immigration and Corrections Silmy Karim. The examination, conducted at the Denpasar Police Station in Bali, sought to deepen witness testimony regarding payments from visa agents to immigration officials at Ngurah Rai and Denpasar. KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo stated that the payments made by agents varied from Rp100,000 to Rp2.5 million for each immigration document application. He explained that, in the context of constructing the case under Article 12e, the visa agents are considered victims of alleged extortion carried out by immigration officials. Budi revealed that the alleged extortion practice involved a term known as ‘uang klik’ (click money) during the application process for Limited Stay Permit Cards (KITAS), Permanent Stay Permit Cards (KITAP), and other immigration documents. Agents were required to pay this money, and if they refused, the processing of their documents would be deliberately obstructed. The KPK suspects that funds were channelled from the Denpasar Class I Immigration Office to the central authority, implicating Silmy Karim, who is a suspect in the case and previously served as Director General of Immigration.