Silmy Karim Allegedly Received Routine Payments from Director General to Deputy Minister

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has stated that suspect Silmy Karim allegedly received routine payments resulting from extortion related to residence permits for foreign nationals. The alleged scheme operated during his tenure as Director General of Immigration from 2023 to 2024 and continued when he became Deputy Minister of Immigration and Corrections from 2025 to 2026. The suspicion emerged from witness statements, other suspects, and Silmy himself during examinations following the sting operation on 2-3 June. KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu said the findings, gathered within the first 24 hours, point to the practice starting during his time as Director General and continuing into his role as Deputy Minister. During the 2022-2026 period, the KPK suspects that parties within the Directorate General of Immigration or the Ministry of Immigration received at least Rp145.5 billion, either directly through cash or transfers or via intermediaries. Specifically, Silmy is alleged to have received a regular allocation of Rp100 million every Friday. Asep described the practice as systemic and deeply rooted. The two-star police general emphasised that the investigation would not stop with the currently named suspects. He stated that investigators would continue to develop the case to identify other potentially involved parties and to pursue charges of money laundering. Regarding other officials, including previous office holders, Asep said investigators would examine whether similar requests had occurred before, asserting it was their duty to uncover such matters if evidence existed. There has been no statement from Silmy or his legal counsel. Silmy had turned himself in to the KPK late Wednesday night, was examined, and was finally named a suspect on Thursday morning. Wearing an orange detainee vest with his hands cuffed, he remained silent when escorted to a detention vehicle. The KPK has named Silmy Karim along with seven other immigration officials and employees as suspects in a case of alleged extortion related to foreign nationals’ residence permits and/or gratification receipt during 2022-2026. The other seven suspects are Acting Director General of Immigration Saffar Muhammad Godam, Director of Residence Permits Jaya Saputra, sub-directorate heads Bagus Bramantyo and Tessar Bayu Setyaji, immigration office heads Ronald Arman Abdullah, team leader Juniadi Sri Priambudi, and staff member Gusti Bernardiansyah. They have been detained for an initial 20 days starting from 4 June to 23 June 2026. The suspects are charged under Article 12 letter e and/or Article 12B of the Corruption Eradication Law in conjunction with Article 20 letter c of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code.