KPK Investigates Weekly Rp 100 Million Alleged Bribes to Former Immigration Official Silmy Karim

Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has uncovered alleged weekly payments of Rp 100 million to Silmy Karim, the former Deputy Minister of Immigration and Corrections, during his tenure as both Deputy Minister and Director General of Immigration. The funds are suspected to originate from systematic extortion of foreign nationals (WNA) processing immigration documents.

According to KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo, the corruption scheme involved intermediaries and service agents who would delay or halt document processing until foreign applicants paid unofficial fees, typically ranging from Rp 1 million to Rp 1.5 million per application, on top of official state levies (PNBP). These extra payments were then collected and distributed among immigration officials using coded language.

Detectives have identified internal codes used to refer to high-level recipients: 'malaikat' (angel) for top officials like Silmy Karim, and band member terms such as 'vokalis' (vocalist), 'gitaris' (guitarist), and 'backing vocal' for other beneficiaries. Junaidi Sri Pambuadi alias JSP, identified as the Head of the Limited Stay Permit Status Transfer Team, is suspected of acting as the collector and distributor of the extorted funds, rather than a direct recipient.

The case began on June 3, 2026, when KPK conducted a sting operation (OTT) at the West Jakarta Immigration Office, leading to the naming of eight suspects in the extortion scheme. Subsequent investigations revealed that Silmy allegedly received a regular Friday transfer of Rp 100 million every weekend. Investigators are now exploring whether the illicit income extended beyond residence permits (kitas) to other immigration services such as visas and permits under the Directorate General of Immigration's authority.

Silmy Karim underwent his first examination as a suspect at the KPK's Red and White Building in Jakarta on Monday, June 8, 2026. The KPK continues to trace electronic evidence linking Silmy to the broader extortion operations within the immigration environment.