Silmy Karim Case Reveals 'Vicious Cycle' of Residence Permit Extortion for Foreign Nationals
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has revealed that an alleged extortion case involving the residence permits of foreign nationals, implicating former Deputy Minister of Immigration and Corrections Silmy Karim, was orchestrated up to the central level. The KPK disclosed the ‘vicious cycle’ in the extortion and gratuity case during a press conference on Thursday.
KPK Chairman Setyo Budiyanto explained that the administrative process for foreign nationals’ residence permits should be conducted online. Foreign nationals apply for residence permits because they wish to settle, whether for work, business, or other purposes. It is at this point that Silmy and his associates allegedly began their extortion efforts.
Setyo stated that foreign nationals wishing to apply for a residence permit must have a guarantor in Indonesia according to their jurisdiction. The guarantor in this context is the immigration office corresponding to the location where the foreign national submits the application. When applying for a residence permit by attaching several required documents, the immigration office would complicate or delay the process for the foreign nationals. The immigration office would then offer tariffs to those who wanted their permits processed until the letter was issued, with varying prices.
Upon submission, the levies would begin. If they did not pay, the documents would not be sent and would be held. Once a payment was made, which could range from Rp 1 million to Rp 1.5 million or even more, the application would be submitted to the Directorate of Residence Permits at the Directorate General of Immigration. Authorisation was then carried out at the central level.
Following an investigation, Setyo stated that these demands occurred up to the central level and did not merely stop at the regional immigration offices. If nothing was given, approvals were withheld. Even at the central level, if the guarantor or administrator only paid the official non-tax state revenue fee without providing something extra, the application would not be authorised, not approved, and would be delayed, both for new initial applications, extensions, status transfers, domicile updates, and re-entry permits.
Regarding Silmy Karim’s role, the alleged extortion took place between 2022 and 2026, dating back to his tenure as Director General of Immigration from 2023 to 2024. Silmy allegedly ‘demanded a cut’ from the processing of foreign nationals’ residence permits through Jaya Saputra, the Director of Residence Permits at the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections, who currently serves as the Head of the West Java Immigration Regional Office.
After receiving the extortion order, Jaya ordered Bagus Bramantyo and Tessar Bayu Setyaji, both Sub-Directorate Heads at the Directorate of Residence Permits, to collect ‘extra fees’ from foreign nationals. They were tasked with pulling additional charges from administrators, guarantors, or sponsors for every application for temporary residence permit documents processed at immigration offices.
To facilitate this extortion scheme, Bagus Bramantyo and Tessar Bayu also provided access to Sub-Directorate of Residence Permits staff members Juniadi Sri Priambudi and Gusti Benardiansyah. During the period from 2022 to 2026, parties within the Directorate General of Immigration and the Ministry received at least Rp 145.5 billion in cash or transfers, either directly or through layering intermediaries.
The funds were reportedly distributed among officials at the Directorate General of Immigration every week. Each Friday, individuals, including Silmy Karim, were estimated to have received a cut of Rp 100 million per week.
Silmy Karim has been named a suspect and detained by the KPK after surrendering on Wednesday evening. Alongside him, seven other individuals have also been designated as suspects. They have been charged with extortion and gratuity. Investigators have also seized evidence in the case, including cash in foreign currencies such as American and Singaporean dollars, precious metals, and several vehicles.