KPK Uncovers Fund Flows in 96 Bank Accounts in Silmy Karim Immigration Case
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has uncovered alleged fund flows in 96 bank accounts related to the immigration case involving the Deputy Minister of Immigration and Correctional Services, Silmy Karim, during his tenure as Director General of Immigration. This discovery was made by the KPK based on reports from the Indonesian Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK).
“In the PPATTK report regarding financial transactions involving 35 employees of the Ministry of Immigration and Correctional Services for the period 2019 to 2025, fund flows were found in 96 bank accounts with a total value reaching Rp366.7 billion,” stated KPK Chairman Setyo Budiyanto during a press conference in South Jakarta on Thursday evening.
He further noted that of the total funds, only Rp9.7 billion, or approximately 3 per cent, originated from salaries and allowances. Meanwhile, the remaining Rp357 billion, or 97 per cent, is alleged to have come from parties applying for immigration services, such as visas, passports, labour permits, and stay permits.
Setyo explained that based on these findings, the commission has conducted operations, including sting operations (OTT), against suspected perpetrators of corruption within the immigration environment. “Sufficient preliminary evidence has been found regarding alleged unlawful acts committed by the parties involved in suspected corruption related to the processing of foreign national stay permits at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights/Immigration between 2022 and 2026,” he said.
During the investigation, investigators found evidence of alleged corruption committed by Silmy Karim during his term as Director General of Immigration. It is alleged that he engaged in extortion by ‘requesting a cut’ from the processing of foreign national stay permits through an individual identified as JS, the Director of Stay Permits.
In addition to Silmy, who surrendered himself to the KPK at midnight, the case involves the Head of the Class I Special West Jakarta Immigration Office, as well as several officials and employees within the Directorate General of Immigration. They have all been suspended following their detention by the KPK.
Previously, the Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correctional Services, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, stated that the corruption case involving eight officials from the Directorate General of Immigration serves as a severe blow to the government. Yusril expressed deep concern regarding the legal case currently being handled by the KPK.
“The government is very concerned about this incident. At a time when we are actively promoting a clean government, corruption practices in the immigration sector are still being discovered. This presents a significant challenge for us to tighten supervision and enforce the law without discrimination, as directed by the President,” Yuslag said in a press statement on Thursday.
The case being investigated by the KPK relates to alleged bureaucratic manipulation within the Directorate General of Immigration regarding the expedited issuance of Limited Stay Permits (ITAS) and Permanent Stay Permits (ITAP), particularly for foreign workers. Several parties are alleged to have collected unofficial fees outside of official regulations to ensure documents are processed faster. Under the Corruption Eradication Law, the act of collecting unilateral fees that are not deposited into the State Treasury falls under the category of extortion.