KPK suspects immigration case suspects used extortion proceeds to purchase crypto

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) suspects that suspects in an alleged extortion case involving the processing of foreign national stay permits within the Directorate General of Immigration purchased cryptocurrency assets using proceeds from the extortion.

“The crypto was purchased using money suspected to be the result of said extortion,” stated KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to journalists in Jakarta on Monday. Budi made the statement when questioned regarding the origin of four cryptocurrency accounts valued at Rp1.2 billion, which have been seized by the KPK from the suspects.

Previously, between 2–3 June 2026, the KPK conducted a sting operation (OTT) related to alleged corruption in the management of foreign national stay permits. This operation was noted as the 11th sting operation carried out during 2026. During the operation, the KPK arrested 17 individuals, consisting of eight state officials or civil servants, and nine private parties acting as intermediaries in the processing of immigration documents.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of Immigration and Correctional Services, Silmy Karim, surrendered himself to the KPK on 3 June 2026. On 4 June 2026, the KPK named eight individuals as suspects in the alleged extortion case involving foreign national stay permits between 2022 and 2026. The activities occurred within the Ministry of Law and Human Rights and transitioned to the Ministry of Immigration and Correctional Services. The suspects are alleged to have amassed Rp145.5 billion during this period.

The suspects include Silmy Karim, who served as the Director General of Immigration for the 2023–2024 period; Acting Director General of Immigration for 2024–2025, Saffar Muhammad Godam; Head of the West Java Regional Office of the Directorate General of Immigration, Jaya Saputra, who previously served as Director of Stay Permits and Immigration Status for 2024–2025; and Head of the Special Class I Immigration Office Non-TPI West Jakarta, Ronald Arman Abdullah. Also implicated are Sub-directorate Heads within the Directorate of Stay Permits and Immigration Status, Tessar Bayu Setyaji and Bagus Bramantyo; ITAS Status Change Team Leader, Juniadi Sri Priambudi; and Stay Permit Sub-directorate Staff, Gusti Benardiansyah.