Delayed approvals and unofficial fees
Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutor Achmad Husin Madya told the court that immigration documents were withheld or left unissued as part of the alleged extortion. The affected services covered Visit Stay Permits, including Emergency/Force Majeure Stay Permits; Limited Stay Permits (ITAS); Permanent Stay Permits (ITAP); and Administrative Status Transfer (ALTUS) changes.
According to prosecutors, the defendants manipulated Molin, a digital immigration application introduced to reduce bureaucracy and regularize non-tax state revenue. They allegedly kept approvals pending beyond the deadlines set by standard operating procedures, exposing applicants and their sponsors to overstay fines. Applicants were then charged unofficial fees ranging from Rp1 million to Rp8 million per application to have documents processed and issued promptly.
Prosecutors traced the illegal levies at the Directorate General of Immigration to 2020. They said an employee named Sutrisno relayed an instruction from the leadership to increase document-processing charges known as "click money" or "counter money" to cover the leadership's operational needs.
The prosecution said the money collected during 2021–2026 was routed through 12 nominee accounts before being distributed to immigration staff and officials.
Defendants, recipients and sponsor agencies
The indictment names six other defendants alongside Silmy: Tessar Bayu Setyaji; Bagus Bramantyo, a former head of the Sub-Directorate of Residence Permits and Immigration Status; Juniadi Sri Priambudi, head of the Limited Stay Permit Status Transfer Team; and Gusti Bernardiansyah, known as Obin, a former employee of the residence permits sub-directorate. It also names Saffar Muhammad Godam, who served as acting director general of immigration in 2024–2025, and Jaya Saputra, former head of the Directorate General of Immigration's West Java Regional Office.
Prosecutors attributed Rp1.2 billion in extortion receipts to Silmy, Rp500 million to Saffar and Rp6.53 billion to Jaya. The amounts allegedly received by the other defendants were Rp2.88 billion for Tessar, Rp4.25 billion for Bagus, Rp50.97 billion for Obin and Rp16.31 billion for Juniadi.
The indictment also describes a schedule Jaya allegedly prepared for recurring payments to the leadership of the newly formed Ministry of Immigration and Corrections. It used code names, including "Rama" for the minister, whose scheduled payment was Rp40 million a week. The deputy minister, acting director general of immigration and minister's private secretary were each listed for Rp100 million a month, while the ministry's secretary-general was listed for Rp50 million a month.
Prosecutors further alleged that extortion proceeds paid for Silmy's doctoral studies at Universitas Brawijaya. They said Bagus paid about Rp50 million toward those studies in December 2025 at Silmy's direction.
Among those allegedly subjected to extortion were company owners Rolly Agustinus Diang of PT Visa4Bali Luwuk, Agus Haryanto of PT Mandiri Anugerah Sehati, Sandhi Hartawan of PT MSI Service Indonesia and Alie Wijaya Tan of PT Patera Surya Gemilang. Prosecutors also named Immanuel Michael, commissioner of PT Klitz Tour & Travel.
Others named were Robert Putranto, manager of PT 1688; Joko Mulyono, an owner and staff member of PT Artha Jaya Leonindo; Marcellena Nirmala, an employee of PT Bali Internasional Surya; and Indrawaty, director of PT Karita Travindo. The allegations also cover other applicants seeking immigration documents and status changes.
Cash and shares in the gratuities charge
The separate gratuities charge concerns receipts dating from Silmy's tenure as director general of immigration at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights in 2023–2024. Prosecutors put the total at Rp33.94 billion.
That total comprises Rp2.56 billion in cash deposits from the deputy minister's operational funds for August 2025 through May 2026, and Rp31.38 billion in shares in several securities companies. The shares were held in Silmy's name and purchased between August 2023 and September 2025. Prosecutors said the receipts were not reported to the KPK within the required 30 working days.
The charges cite Article 12, letter e, and Article 12B, in conjunction with Article 18 of the Corruption Law, as well as Article 20, letter c, and Article 127, paragraph (1), of the Criminal Code.
Investigation and Silmy's career
The KPK said the immigration case developed from its 2025 investigation into the foreign labor utilization plan, or RPTKA, at the Ministry of Manpower. Financial transaction report data from Indonesia's Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) supported the investigation, which led to a sting operation and eight suspects.
Before entering immigration administration, Silmy was known for his work turning around state-owned enterprises. He was credited with increasing productivity at PT Pindad and rescuing PT Krakatau Steel from collapse after becoming its president director in 2018.
Born in Tegal on November 19, 1974, Silmy became director general of immigration in early 2023. In that role, he launched e-passports, facial-recognition autogates and Indonesia's Golden Visa program. He later became deputy minister of immigration and corrections under President Prabowo Subianto.
Challenge to the indictment set for November 5
Silmy had previously challenged the investigation through a pretrial motion at the South Jakarta District Court. On September 29, 2026, sole judge Yuliana rejected it, finding that the KPK had followed legal procedures in naming him a suspect, detaining him, and conducting searches and seizures. The judge also found that the measures were supported by at least two valid pieces of evidence, leaving his suspect status in place.
Chief judge Atep Sopandi presided over the October 29 opening hearing, joined by member judges Saptono and Andi Saputra. After prosecutors read the indictment, Silmy said through his lawyers that he would file an objection, known as an eksepsi. The panel scheduled that hearing for November 5, 2026.
