HOLOPIS.COM, JAKARTA – Indonesia’s anti-corruption agency is investigating allegations that immigration officials extorted foreign nationals by demanding payments in exchange for avoiding deportation and other immigration sanctions. The allegations emerged as the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) expanded its investigation into an alleged corruption scheme involving residence permits for foreign nationals.
“The alleged extortion was linked to immigration enforcement,” KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo said, Holopis.com reported, Friday (3/7).
According to Budi, investigators suspect some immigration officials demanded money from foreign nationals who had violated Indonesia’s immigration laws in exchange for avoiding administrative sanctions, including deportation.
“For example, someone who should have been deported was allegedly asked to pay money so the sanction would not be imposed. That is the kind of scheme investigators believe took place,” he said.
The allegations surfaced while the KPK was already investigating a separate corruption case involving the processing of residence permits for foreign nationals.
As part of the investigation, KPK investigators questioned several officials from the Special Immigration Office in West Jakarta on Wednesday. The witnesses included senior officials responsible for immigration status, residence permits, intelligence, enforcement, and travel document verification.
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Budi said investigators were also examining funds allegedly received by Ronald Arman Abdullah, the former head of the West Jakarta Immigration Office.
“The investigation is not limited to payments related to immigration permits. Investigators are also looking into money allegedly linked to immigration enforcement, as well as funds allegedly received by employees during Ronald Arman Abdullah’s tenure,” he said.
The KPK has named eight suspects in the corruption case involving residence permits for foreign nationals.
Those charged include former Director General of Immigration Silmy Karim, who later served as Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Immigration and Corrections, along with several current and former senior immigration officials.
The suspects were arrested following a KPK sting operation that resulted in the seizure of assets worth Rp17.5 billion, including cars, motorcycles, bicycles, bank account balances, cryptocurrency assets, and foreign currencies.
Investigators also searched Silmy Karim’s residence in South Jakarta on June 5, seizing several luxury vehicles, including four Harley-Davidson motorcycles, two Porsche 911 sports cars, and several Vespa scooters.
According to investigators, Silmy allegedly received illegal payments linked to immigration services during his tenure as Director General of Immigration from 2023 to 2024. The KPK also suspects he continued receiving weekly payments of Rp100 million after becoming deputy minister.
All eight suspects have been charged under Indonesia’s anti-corruption laws and remain in KPK custody while the investigation continues.