KPK Says Silmy Karim Still 'Gaspol' to Receive Extortion Money Even Though He Is Deputy Minister of Imipas

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) suspects that Silmy Karim received money from extortion of the management of residence permits for foreign nationals (WNA) since the Director General of Immigration for the period 2023-2024. He even continued to receive it even though he had been sworn in by President Prabowo Subianto as Deputy Minister of Immigration and Corrections (Imipas).

This was conveyed by the acting (Plt) Director of KPK Investigation Achmad Taufik Husein who stated that evidence of the receipt of the extortion money was found during the hand-in-hand operation (OTT) on Wednesday, June 3. Silmy allegedly turned a blind eye and continued to carry out his actions.

"Then since the Deputy Minister, he also knew that there were such quotas and still carried out those processes," said Taufik at a press conference at the KPK's Red and White building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Thursday, June 4.

Even so, Taufik has not been able to specify the total amount of money received by Silmy. They are limited in time in determining suspects after a silent operation so that further investigations will be carried out during the investigation stage.

"Well, what will be the total of that which is being investigated by the investigation team," he said.

In addition to the total amount, Taufik explained that Silmy's use of money would be investigated. Including who are the parties who also enjoy the money from the extortion of foreign nationals.

Completing Taufik, Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK Asep Guntur Rahayu said that those who enjoy the flow of money will definitely be called. Moreover, Silmy is suspected of receiving Rp. 100 million per week.

"Later, yes, we are deepening this. Later who will be called, later it will definitely (be called, red) here (during the investigation process, red)," said Asep in the same press conference.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the KPK Setyo Budiyanto said that a number of parties in the Ministry of Imipas were suspected of receiving a total of Rp. 145.5 billion in cash both directly and indirectly. The distribution was carried out every Friday.

In this case, the KPK named eight suspects from a silent operation carried out on Wednesday, June 3. The details are as follows:

1. Wamen Imipas 2025-2026 who is also Director General (Dirjen) Imipas 2023-2024 Silmy Karim; 2. Acting Director General of Immigration 2024-2025 Saffar Muhammad Godam; 3. Head of the Regional Office (Kakanwil) of the Directorate General of Immigration West Java who previously served as Director of Residence Permits and Immigration Status of the Immigration Directorate Jaya Saputra; 4. Sub-Directorate of Residence Permit Status in the Directorate of Residence Permits and Immigration Status of the Immigration Directorate Tessar Bayu Setyaji; 5. Sub-Directorate in the Directorate of Residence Permits Bagus Bramantyo; 6. Head of the Central Jakarta Immigration Office 2024-2025 and Head of the Class I Immigration Office for Non-TPI West Jakarta 2025-2026 Ronald Arman Abdullah; 7. Chairman of the ITAS Status Transfer Team Juniadi Sri Priambudi; and 8. Staff of the Residence Permit Sub-Directorate Gusti Benardiansyah.

As a result of his actions, Silmy and the other seven suspects are suspected of violating Article 12 letter e and/or Article 12B of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning the Eradication of Corruption Jo. Article 20 letter c of Law No. 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code.