Prosecutor: ‘Counter fees’ for changing foreigners’ visa status reach Rp8 million per application
Jakarta (ANTARA) – Achmad Husin Madya, a public prosecutor from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), said that ‘counter fees’ or ‘click fees’ for processing foreigners’ residence permits ranged from Rp1 million to Rp8 million per application.
The alleged ‘counter fees’ or ‘click fees’ were payments for processing immigration letters or documents, made by applicants or agents and intended for several officials or other parties at the Directorate General of Immigration.
“These click fees or counter fees were for processing changes of status at the Directorate of Status Changes at the Directorate General of Immigration, under the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections,” the prosecutor said while reading the indictment at a hearing at the Central Jakarta District Court’s Corruption Court on Thursday.
In detail, changing status from a Visit Stay Permit (ITK) to a Limited Stay Permit (ITAS) cost approximately Rp1 million to Rp1.5 million per application.
Changing status from an ITAS to a Permanent Stay Permit (ITAP) cost between Rp2.5 million and Rp8 million per application.
The prosecutor said agents made the alleged ‘click’ or ‘counter’ payments because approval of status-change applications was delayed beyond the prescribed deadline for issuing a Status Change Permit. The delays were followed by the failure to issue the permit.
“This resulted in foreigners overstaying, with the costs borne by the agents, even though they had completed all the requirements and paid the non-tax state revenue through the application,” the prosecutor said.
The delays were intended to prompt agents to come in and ask about the progress of their applications, the prosecutor added. After receiving the alleged ‘click’ and ‘counter’ payments, officials approved the applications in the system and issued the Status Change Permits.
For the processing of permits handled by the Directorate of Stay Permits, covering ITKs, ITASs and ITAPs, each deputy director—Yukatsih and Ferry Herling South—gave approval account access to Gusti Benardiansyah for ITAS applications and Yohannes Sri Windarto for ITAP applications.
The two then contacted agents, received ‘counter’ or ‘click’ fees for approvals requiring central clearance, collected the money to give to Juniadi Sri Pambudi, and reported it to Tessar Bayu Setyaji for distribution to officials in predetermined amounts.
“This included money for Silmy Karim, which was handed over through Bagus Bramantyo,” the prosecutor said.
The case concerns alleged extortion in the processing of foreigners’ residence permits and the receipt of gratuities during 2021–2026. Among those charged is Silmy Karim, Deputy Minister of Immigration and Corrections for 2024–2026.
Silmy is accused of extorting a total of Rp168.92 billion and receiving Rp33.94 billion in gratuities. The alleged extortion involved making it difficult to obtain, delaying the issuance of, or failing to issue immigration documents to applicants.
The documents included Visit Stay Permits (including permits for exceptional and emergency circumstances), Limited Stay Permits (ITAS), Permanent Stay Permits (ITAP), and changes of immigration status (ALTUS).
Silmy is alleged to have acted with Tessar Bayu Setyaji, a former head of a subdirectorate at the Directorate of Stay Permits and Immigration Status at the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections’ Directorate General of Immigration; Bagus Bramantyo; and Juniadi Sri Priambudi, head of the Limited Stay Permit Status Change Team.
Others named in the case are Gusti Bernardiansyah, also known as Obin, a former staff member of the Immigration Directorate General’s Stay Permits Subdirectorate; Saffar Muhammad Godam, acting Director General of Immigration in 2024–2025; and Jaya Saputra, a former head of the Directorate General of Immigration’s West Java regional office.
The defendants allegedly received different amounts from the extortion: Silmy Rp1.2 billion; Saffar Rp500 million; Jaya Rp6.53 billion; Tessar Rp2.88 billion; Bagus Rp4.25 billion; Obin Rp50.97 billion; and Juniadi Rp16.31 billion.
The gratuities allegedly received by Silmy comprised Rp2.56 billion in cash and shares worth Rp31.38 billion in several securities companies, held in his name.
The former deputy minister faces charges under Articles 12(e) and 12B, in conjunction with Article 18, of Law No. 31/1999 on the Eradication of Corruption, as amended by Law No. 20/2001, in conjunction with Article 20(c) and Article 127(1) of the National Criminal Code.