Former Immigration Deputy Minister Charged in US$10.6M Corruption Case

Former Deputy Minister of Immigration and Corrections Silmy Karim is facing multiple corruption charges after prosecutors from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) accused him of involvement in an immigration-related extortion scheme and receiving illicit gratuities during his tenure.

The allegations were presented during his first hearing at the Jakarta Corruption Court on October 29, 2026, covering offenses committed while he served as director general of immigration and subsequently as deputy minister between October 21, 2024, and June 4, 2026.

According to the indictment, Silmy allegedly received gratuities totaling Rp33.94 billion (US$2.13 million), comprising Rp2.56 billion in cash and Rp31.38 billion in shares held under his name at several securities firms.

Prosecutors stated that the cash payments, recorded as operational funds for the deputy minister, were received between August 2025 and May 2026. The share purchases allegedly involved funds obtained from other parties between August 2023 and September 2025.

Beyond the gratuity allegations, KPK prosecutors accused Silmy of participating in an extortion scheme targeting foreign nationals and immigration service agencies, generating Rp168.9 billion (US$10.6 million) in unlawful collections.

Prosecutors alleged that Silmy personally benefited by Rp1.2 billion (US$75,500), while the remaining proceeds were distributed among other immigration officials and individuals implicated in the scheme, including former acting immigration director general Saffar Muhammad Godam, immigration official Jaya Saputra, and Gusti Benardiansyah, who allegedly received Rp50.97 billion (US$3.21 million).