In the archipelago's ongoing reckoning with institutional corruption, Indonesia's anti-corruption agency KPK has seized six billion rupiah in cash and uncovered what investigators describe as a years-long extortion network embedded within the very offices meant to welcome foreign residents. Former Deputy Minister of Immigration Silmy Karim and seven colleagues now stand accused of transforming bureaucratic gatekeeping into a private revenue stream, allegedly collecting 145.5 billion rupiah from permit applicants since 2023. The case raises enduring questions about how power, when left unexamin
KPK Seizes Rp6 Billion in Immigration Permit Extortion Probe
Money obtained through extortion of foreign nationals received by certain individuals
Mark
So the KPK found six billion rupiah in cash. That's a specific number—does that represent the total take from this scheme, or just what they happened to find on that particular day?
Mimi
Just what they found during that one round of questioning. The investigators estimate the whole operation generated around 145 billion rupiah since 2023. So this six billion is a piece of it.
Luke
Right, and that 145 billion figure—is that based on solid accounting, or is it an estimate? Because there's a difference between "we traced the money" and "we think this is roughly what happened."
Mimi
The source doesn't specify how they arrived at that number. It's described as what investigators estimate, which suggests it's not a final accounting.
Mark
And they've already seized 150 billion in assets—buildings, land, vehicles. So the money is moving into property?
Mimi
That appears to be part of it. But here's where it gets murky: some of those assets are registered under other people's names, which is why they're now investigating money laundering.
Luke
So they don't actually know who owns those assets yet. They know they exist and they're connected to the case, but the ownership trail is obscured.
Mimi
Exactly. That's the investigation that's still ongoing.
Mark
What about Silmy Karim himself? Has he said anything?
Mimi
No. His lawyer said they're not commenting until they get authorization from him, and they're focused on the examination at the KPK.
Luke
Which means he's in custody and not speaking publicly. That's important context—he hasn't denied anything because he hasn't said anything at all.
O Pulso
- Six billion rupiah in cash was recovered during witness questioning at Denpasar City Police headquarters, a tangible sign of how much money allegedly flowed through immigration offices meant to serve the public.
- Eight suspects — including a former deputy minister and multiple senior immigration directors — now face accusations that they turned the residence permit process into a coordinated shakedown of foreign nationals.
- The financial scale is staggering: investigators estimate the scheme generated Rp145.5 billion since 2023, with Silmy Karim allegedly receiving Rp100 million every single week as his personal cut.
- A separate seizure of Rp150 billion in assets — vehicles, land, and buildings registered under other people's names — has pushed investigators into money laundering territory, with asset tracing still actively underway.
- Silmy Karim has remained silent, his legal team withholding comment pending his authorization, leaving the full shape of the defense — and the full shape of the scheme — still emerging.
In the archipelago's ongoing reckoning with institutional corruption, Indonesia's anti-corruption agency KPK has seized six billion rupiah in cash and uncovered what investigators describe as a years-long extortion network embedded within the very offices meant to welcome foreign residents. Former Deputy Minister of Immigration Silmy Karim and seven colleagues now stand accused of transforming bureaucratic gatekeeping into a private revenue stream, allegedly collecting 145.5 billion rupiah from permit applicants since 2023. The case raises enduring questions about how power, when left unexamined, tends to extract tribute from the vulnerable — and how deeply such arrangements can root themselves before they are seen.
Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission, the KPK, seized six billion rupiah in cash on August 28, 2026, while questioning three immigration officials at Denpasar City Police headquarters. The funds are believed to be proceeds from a systematic extortion scheme targeting foreign nationals applying for residence permits — money allegedly collected not through any lawful fee, but through unauthorized pressure applied at every stage of the permit process.
At the center of the case is Silmy Karim, who served as Deputy Minister of Immigration and Correctional Affairs, along with seven other suspects holding senior positions within Indonesia's Directorate General of Immigration. Investigators believe the scheme began in 2023 when Silmy became Director General, and that it generated approximately Rp145.5 billion over the following years. His alleged weekly share: Rp100 million.
The financial trail extends well beyond the cash seizure. The KPK had previously recovered assets worth around Rp150 billion — land, buildings, and vehicles — some registered under names other than those of the officials under investigation. That discovery opened a parallel inquiry into money laundering, with authorities now working to determine how much wealth remains hidden and under whose names it may be concealed.
The seven other suspects include the Acting Director General of Immigration from 2024 to 2025, two directors within the permit system, and four additional officials who held positions across the immigration apparatus. Silmy himself has not responded publicly. His legal team stated they were awaiting his authorization before making any comment, and were focused on the examination process now underway at the KPK. The investigation remains open, and the full accounting of what was taken — and from whom — is not yet complete.
Indonesia's anti-corruption agency has seized six billion rupiah in cash during an investigation into what officials describe as a systematic extortion scheme targeting foreign nationals seeking residence permits. The money was recovered on Friday, August 28, 2026, while investigators questioned three immigration officials at Denpasar City Police headquarters. The case centers on Silmy Karim, who served as Deputy Minister of Immigration and Correctional Affairs, and seven other suspects accused of extracting payments from permit applicants at the Directorate General of Immigration.
According to KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo, the seized funds are believed to represent proceeds taken directly from foreign nationals navigating the residence permit process. Investigators questioned the Head of the Residence Permit and Immigration Status Section, the Head of the Denpasar Immigration Office, and the Head of the Immigration Traffic and Residence Permit Section at the Singaraja Class II office about how money moved through the system and who received it. The questioning focused on the procedures used to process permits and the alleged collection of unauthorized payments from applicants.
The investigation has uncovered a much larger financial picture. The KPK previously seized assets valued at approximately 150 billion rupiah—including vehicles, land, and buildings—connected to the same case. Acting Director of Investigation Achmad Taufik Husein disclosed these findings during a press conference on August 19, noting that some assets were registered under names other than those of the officials being investigated. This discovery prompted authorities to examine whether money laundering schemes were used to obscure the origins and ownership of the seized property.
Investigators believe the extortion operation began in 2023 when Silmy assumed the role of Director General of Immigration. The KPK estimates the scheme generated approximately 145.5 billion rupiah over that period, with Silmy allegedly receiving 100 million rupiah each week as his share. The eight suspects named in the case include, beyond Silmy, the Acting Director General of Immigration from 2024 to 2025, Saffar Muhammad Godam; the Director of Stay Permits and Immigration Status, Jaya Saputra; and the Head of the Sub-directorate for Stay Permit Status Conversion, Tessar Bayu Setyaji. Four additional officials—Bagus Bramantyo, Ronald Arman Abdullah, Juniadi Sri Priambudi, and Gusti Benar—round out the suspect list, each holding or having held positions within the immigration permit system.
Silmy Karim, 51 years old, has not publicly responded to the allegations. Tempo's attempts to reach him by phone went unanswered, and after his detention by the KPK, his legal team declined to comment. One of his lawyers, T.M. Achram Taruna, stated that the defense was awaiting authorization from Silmy before making any public statements and was focusing on the examination process underway at the KPK. The investigation into money laundering remains active, with authorities continuing to trace additional assets they believe are connected to the scheme. The question of how much money remains hidden—and in whose names it may be registered—remains unresolved.
Citações Notáveis
There are allegations of money being received by certain individuals within the Directorate General of Immigration from permit applicants— KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo
We are investigating whether this involves money laundering methods— KPK Acting Director of Investigation Achmad Taufik Husein
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