KPK: Silmy Karim Routinely Paid Rp 3 Million to UB Lecturer Per Doctoral Supervision Session
The KPK has disclosed that the former Deputy Minister of Immigration and Correctional Services, Silmy Karim, routinely provided money to Universitas Brawijaya (UB) lecturer Romy Hermawan during doctoral promotion supervision sessions. The funds, which are suspected to be the proceeds of extortion involving foreign nationals’ stay permits, amounted to approximately Rp 3 million per supervision session.
“Regarding the alleged provision of money by Mr SK and Mr BGS to an official at Universitas Brawijaya, it is alleged that these payments were made routinely during every supervision session,” stated KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo at the Merah Putih building in Kuningan, Jakarta, on Thursday (1/10/2026).
Budi noted that the amount Silmy provided to Romy varied, but was estimated to be around Rp 3 million per doctoral supervision. Additionally, Silmy allegedly donated money to an event at a private university in Jakarta.
“The amounts varied; some were around the Rp 3 million mark, and the figures were diverse. Furthermore, there are allegations that Mr SK also donated to a conference at a private university in Jakarta. This has also occurred,” he said.
KPK investigators are currently deepening their investigation into Silmy’s donations to the private university in Jakarta, specifically regarding the flow of funds. The investigation aims to determine how the money, allegedly obtained through extortion or illegal levies related to immigration, was utilised.
The KPK previously interrogated Romy following allegations that he received money from Silmy Karim while serving as a doctoral supervisor. The KPK stated that the funds provided by Silmy to Romy are suspected to have been collected from the extortion of foreign nationals regarding limited stay permits.
“The funds allegedly provided by Mr SK’s party to Mr RM, which are under investigation, are suspected to be funds collected from deposits made within the Directorate General of Immigration environment,” Budi explained.
Romy was scheduled for questioning last week but failed to appear, leading to a rescheduled examination.
In this case, the KPK has named eight individuals as suspects and has seized assets totalling Rp 150 billion. The extortion case involving foreign nationals’ limited stay permits is suspected to have occurred since Silmy Karim served as the Director General of Immigration in 2023. The KPK suspects the total funds collected in this case reach Rp 145.5 billion, with allegations that Silmy received a weekly quota of Rp 100 million.
The eight suspects in this case are:
Former Deputy Minister of Immigration and Correctional Services 2025-2026 and Director General of Immigration and Correctional Services 2023-2024, Silmy Karim (SK)
Acting Director General of Immigration 2024-2025, Saffar Muhammad Godam (SMG)
Director of Stay Permits and Immigration Status, Directorate General of Immigration, Jaya Saputra (JS)
Sub-Director of Stay Permit Status Change, Directorate of Stay Permits and Immigration Status, Tessar Bayu Setyaji (TBS)
Sub-Director in the Directorate of Stay Permits, Bagus Bramantyo (BGS)
Head of Central Jakarta Immigration Office 2024-2025 and Head of Class I Special Non-TPI Jakarta West Immigration Office 2025-2026, Ronald Arman Abdullah (RAA)
Head of the ITAS Status Change Team, Juniadi Sri Priambudi (JSP)
Staff of the Stay Permit Sub-directorate, Gusti Benar