KPK: Silmy Karim Once Communicated with 'Russian Village' Boss in Bali
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has disclosed new findings in its investigation into alleged corruption within the Ministry of Immigration and Correctional Services. The former Deputy Minister of Immigration and Correctional Services, Silmy Karim, is indicated to have engaged in communication with a German national, Andrej Frey.
Andrej Frey is known as the Director of PT Parq Ubud Partners, the manager of an area in Ubud, Bali, which is popular as the ‘Russian Village’. The Acting Director of Investigations at the KPK, Achmad Taufik Husein, confirmed the existence of information regarding this communication.
‘It is Andrej Frey, the German national. I may not be able to describe it in detail as it has entered the substance of the case, but it is true that such information exists,’ Taufik stated at the KPK Red and White Building in Jakarta on Monday night.
KPK investigators are currently delving into whether the communication between Silmy Karim and Andrej Frey is related to extortion practices. Taufik explained that this information is a crucial part of the ongoing investigation development.
‘This is being developed by investigators. Whether this will also be included in the extortion modes carried out by SK [Silmy Karim]? That will be developed in our investigation,’ he asserted.
As background, Andrej Frey had previously been named a suspect by the Bali Regional Police since 24 January 2025. He is implicated in a case involving the alleged criminal conversion of sustainable agricultural land and protected rice fields in Ubud through his positions at PT Tommorow Land Development Bali and PT Alfa Management Bali.
The case surfaced after the KPK conducted a sting operation (OTT) on 2–3 June 2026 regarding alleged corruption in the processing of stay permits for foreign nationals (WNA). In this 11th operation of 2026, the KPK detained 17 individuals, including eight state officials and nine private sector parties.
Silmy Karim surrendered himself to the KPK on 3 June 2026. A day later, the anti-corruption agency named eight individuals as suspects in a case involving alleged extortion related to the processing of foreign national stay permits for the 2022–2026 period. The total losses or funds amassed by the suspects are estimated to reach IDR 145.5 billion.