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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Elections & Politics

Extortion Probe: Investigators Seize Cash, Assets from Former Indonesian Deputy Minister's Home

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Under investigation
  • Indonesian investigators seized cash in rupiah and foreign currencies, jewelry, bicycles, and vehicles from the home of former Deputy Minister of Immigration and Penitentiary, Silmy Karim.
  • The search is part of an investigation into alleged extortion related to the processing of foreign national residency permits at the Directorate General of Immigration.
  • KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo clarified that a widely circulated photo of stacked foreign currency was not from the search of Karim's residence.

Investigators from Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) seized various assets, including cash in Indonesian Rupiah and foreign currencies, jewelry, bicycles, and motor vehicles, during a search of former Deputy Minister of Immigration and Penitentiary Silmy Karim's residence in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, on June 5, 2026. The operation is linked to an ongoing investigation into alleged extortion concerning the processing of residency permits for foreign nationals.

Besides money, several pieces of jewelry, bicycles, and motor vehicles were also secured, ranging from scooters, big bikes, to sports cars.

— Budi PrasetyoDetailing the items seized from Silmy Karim's residence.

KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo detailed the seized items, which included Rp 59 million, US$12,200, EUR 1,250, and ¥80,000 in cash. Alongside the money, investigators also secured jewelry, bicycles, and a range of motor vehicles, from scooters to sports bikes. Prasetyo's statement also addressed a viral photo circulating on social media depicting stacks of foreign currency, clarifying that the image was not related to the KPK's search of Karim's home.

We are clarifying, the photo of stacked foreign currency that is widely circulating on social media is not part of the KPK's search activities at SK's house.

— Budi PrasetyoDenying that a viral photo of money was found during the search.

Silmy Karim, along with seven other officials and employees from the Directorate General of Immigration, has been named a suspect in the extortion case. These individuals include former Acting Director General of Immigration Saffar Muhammad Godam, Director of Stay Permits Jaya Saputra, and several heads of immigration offices and sub-directorates. The KPK stated that this case is an extension of a previous investigation at the Ministry of Manpower.

The investigation into this closed case began as a follow-up to the case of planned foreign worker employment at the Ministry of Manpower.

— Setyo BudiyantoExplaining the origin of the current investigation.

The investigation suggests that the suspects allegedly amassed approximately Rp 357 billion from the processing of foreign worker permits during Silmy Karim's tenure as Director General of Immigration from 2023 to 2024. Data from the Center for Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis (PPATK) indicates that these funds flowed through 96 bank accounts between 2019 and 2025, reportedly originating from applicants seeking immigration services. The KPK highlighted that the illegal levies involved officials and staff at various levels within the Directorate General of Immigration.

It is suspected that they enjoyed money from the processing of foreign worker permits amounting to Rp 357 billion.

— Setyo BudiyantoStating the alleged amount of illicit funds collected.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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