Yusril instructs Immigration officials to comply with KPK investigation stages
The Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correctional Affairs, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, has instructed Vice Minister of Immigration and Correctional Affairs Silmy Karim and all Immigration officials summoned by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to remain cooperative and adhere to all stages of the investigation conducted by the investigative team.
He stated that the government places full confidence in the KPK as an independent institution to thoroughly investigate this matter to ensure justice is served. “We ensure that the government will not obstruct the legal process. We are opening the doors to coordination as wide as possible and are ready to assist KPK investigators if additional data or information is required,” Yusril said when confirmed in Jakarta on Thursday.
Yusril expressed his appreciation for the KPK’s consistent performance in combating corruption. Regarding reports to the Head of State, he noted that the President is believed to receive regular reports from the Attorney General’s Office, given that the KPK is institutionally independent and does not have a structural obligation to report directly to the President within the scope of investigations.
The Coordinating Minister explained that the ongoing case relates to alleged bureaucratic manipulation within the Directorate General of Immigration concerning the accelerated issuance of Limited Stay Permits (ITAS) and Permanent Stay Permits (ITAP), particularly for foreign workers. In this case, several individuals are suspected of collecting unofficial fees outside of regulations to ensure documents are processed more quickly.
Under the provisions of the Corruption Eradation Law (UU Tipikor), the act of unilaterally collecting fees that are not deposited into the state treasury falls under the category of extortion. The Ministry of Immigration and Correctional Affairs has now officially abolished all schemes for expedited payments outside of standard procedures, such as ‘express lane’ practices where documents are completed in one or two days via illegal tariffs. All immigration services must now operate according to standard procedures, with operational costs ensured to be transparent and fully deposited into the state treasury as Non-Tax State Revenue (PNBP). This cleansing measure is expected to serve as a reflection and a momentum for a total evaluation to ensure that future immigration services are significantly better, cleaner, and more integral.