KPK Reveals Corruption in Foreigner Stay Permit Processing at Immigration Persists Following Sting Operation
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has revealed that the practice of accepting bribes for the processing of foreign national (WNA) stay permits by certain officials within the Directorate General of Immigration is still ongoing following a sting operation (OTT) in early June.
“Following the occurrence of the sting operation, the KPK suspects that the practices of receiving money by certain individuals in Immigration are still being carried out,” stated KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo when confirmed on Wednesday (2/9).
Regarding these practices, Budi explained that investigators have conducted searches at several immigration offices and seized evidence believed to be related to the case.
“This means that even though this investigation is progressing within the KPK, there are still certain individuals who maintain fixed tariffs for the approval of immigration services at the level of Immigration Offices (Kanim). Consequently, during the investigation stage, the KPK conducted searches at several Kanim offices suspected of continuing similar practices,” said Budi.
“However, there are also Kanim offices that have ceased such activities, where investigators seized evidence during the investigation. For instance, in Bali recently, the seized items include suspected funds that were received previously,” he explained.
On Friday, 28 August 2026, the KPK seized more than Rp6 billion in cash during the examination of the Head of the Denpasar Immigration Office, R. Haryo Sakti, and several other witnesses at the Denpasar Police Headquarters.
Meanwhile, in early August, the KPK searched the office of the Head of the South Jakarta Immigration Office, Winarko, and found SGD 8,500. The KPK intends to confirm this with Winarko.
In addition to the Special Class I Non-TPI Immigration Office of South Jakarta, investigators also searched the Class I Non-TPI Immigration Office of Central Jakarta. At this location, investigators seized various pieces of evidence, including documents and Electronic Evidence (BBE) believed to be related to the construction of the ongoing case.
Previously, the KPK had also searched a service bureau office in Bali, seizing documents and electronic evidence suspected to be related to the case. Furthermore, between 17-19 June 2026, investigators searched the Class I TPI Immigration Office of Denpasar, as well as the offices of PT Visa Empat Bali and CV Visa Agung Bali Teratai Promanende. During these searches, investigators seized several pieces of electronic evidence and documents.
Eight individuals have been named suspects by the KPK in this corruption case. They include the former Deputy Minister of Immigration, Silmy Karim; the Acting Director General of Immigration for the 2024-2025 period, Saffar Muhammad Godam; the Director of Stay Permits, Jaya Saputra; and Sub-directorate officials in the Directorate of Stay Permits, Bagus Bramantyo and Tessar Bayu Setyaji.
Also named are the Head of the Central Jakarta Immigration Office for 2024-2025 and Head of the West Jakarta Immigration Office for 2025-2026, Ronald Arman Abdullah; the Head of the Limited Stay Permit (ITAS) Status Change Team, Juniadi Sri Priambudi; and a staff member of the Stay Permit Sub-directorate, Gusti Bernardiansyah. All suspects have been detained at the KPK Detention Centre.
The suspects are charged with violating Article 12 letter e and/or Article 12B of the Law on the Eradication of Corruption Crimes in conjunction with Article 20 letter c of Law Number 1 of 2022 regarding the Criminal Code (KUHP).
The case was uncovered by the KPK through a sting operation on 2-3 June 2026. During that operation, the KPK arrested 18 people, one of whom, Silmy Karim, surrendered himself. The KPK also found and secured various pieces of evidence suspected to be related to or the proceeds of corruption, totalling approximately Rp17.5 billion. This includes 7 cars, 15 motorcycles, 11 bicycles, bank account balances, crypto asset accounts, and various foreign currencies.