Former Deputy Minister of Immigration and Corrections Silmy Karim was charged with extortion related to processing a residence permit for foreign citizens amounting to Rp168.9 billion.
“The actions of Defendant Silmy Karim together with Jaya Saputra, Tessar Bayu Setyaji, Bagus Bramantyo, Gusti Benardiansyah, and Juniadi Sri Priambudi constitute a criminal act of corruption as regulated and punishable in Article 12 letter e Juncto Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption Crimes Juncto Article 20 letter c of Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 1 of 1999 2023 concerning the Criminal Code Juncto Article 127 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code,” said the prosecutor when reading out the indictment at the Corruption Offences (Tindak Pidana Korupsi or Tipikor) District Court on Thursday, the 29th of October.
The defendants obtained click money or counter money from applicants for immigration services through a delayed, pending, or accelerated immigration document service mechanism that took advantage of the authority of their respective positions.
“That with the division of tasks, collection of money, use of nominee accounts, distribution of receipts, and giving shares to certain officials, they have acted together in a series of actions aimed at gaining profits from immigration document services,” said the prosecutor.
The prosecutor stated that the service bureaus gave the click money or counter money not because of free will, but because they were concerned that the application would end up being postponed, pending, not being processed, or not being issued immediately, which could result in losses for the applicant in the form of delays in immigration status, additional costs, and the risk of overstaying for the foreign nationals being processed.
“That the Defendant Silmy Karim knew, allowed, enjoyed, and obtained a share of the results of this practice; therefore, he participated in the act of forcing someone to give something by abusing the power inherent in the position of state administrator,” said the prosecutor as well.
In addition to being charged with extortion, Karim is also accused of receiving gratuities totalling Rp 33.8 billion, consisting of Rp 2.56 billion in cash and shares in several securities firms valued at Rp 31.38 billion.
“The defendant, Silmy Karim, has—either directly or indirectly—received funds totalling Rp 2,560,000,000, as well as shares in several securities firms held in his name, valued at Rp 31,381,119,000,” stated the prosecutor.