TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - After hours of an uncertain process, Deputy Minister of Immigration and Corrections Silmy Karim finally arrived at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) headquarters on the night of Wednesday, June 3, 2026. The following day, the KPK named Silmy and seven other Immigration officials suspects in the alleged extortion of foreign nationals. Silmy allegedly received Rp100 million every week from 2023, when he became Director-General of Immigration, through 2026.
The KPK uncovered the role of Silmy Karim and his associates while investigating the foreign worker employment plan (RPTKA) case at the Ministry of Manpower. KPK acting Director of Investigation Achmad Taufik Husein said the suspects allegedly carried out extortion through service agencies handling visas, passports, and work and stay permits for foreign nationals. The following are excerpts from Taufik’s interview with Tempo reporters Febriyan, Riani Sanusi Putri, and Ade Ridwan at the KPK’s Red-and-White Building in South Jakarta on Thursday, June 11, 2026.
What is the connection between this case and the corruption case at the Ministry of Manpower?
During the investigation into the RPTKA case, we found an overlap with immigration processes, particularly the issuance of stay permits for foreign nationals. We detected indications of extortion within the Immigration Directorate.
How did the KPK uncover Silmy Karim’s role in this case?
Applications for stay permits by foreign nationals are actually submitted online. Service agencies help prepare the documents and upload them into the system. But the online system still requires authorization before a permit can be issued. This is what was allegedly controlled by SK (Silmy Karim). It was called “approval-click money.” Without authorization through a click in the system, the application would be delayed.
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