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View all search resultsGraft probe offers hope for better immigration system, mixed-marriage families say
As investigations continue into an alleged extortion case involving former deputy immigration minister Silmy Karim, mixed-marriage families expressed hopes for real improvement in Indonesia’s immigration system.
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Deputy Immigration and Corrections Minister Silmy Karim (center) walks wearing a detainee vest on June 4 after questioning at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) headquarters in Jakarta. (Antara/Dhemas Reviyanto)
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ixed-marriage families said a corruption investigation into former deputy immigration minister Silmy Karim had renewed hopes for long-overdue improvements to Indonesia’s immigration system and the processing of residence permits for their foreign spouses and children.
In a recent interview with The Jakarta Post, Indonesian Mixed-Marriage Society (Perca) chair Rulita Anggraini said families in the group had for decades faced a maze of unclear procedures, inconsistent requirements and user-unfriendly digital forms when applying for immigration permits. These conditions, she said, often culminated in requests for additional payments to expedite or complete applications.
“So we were shocked, but not shocked, when the Corruption Eradication Commission [KPK] made the arrests earlier this month,” Rulita said.
“We were not surprised by what the arrests revealed, because corrupt practices within the system have long been an open secret in our community. What surprised us was the extent to which it was exposed,” she added.
Investigation by the KPK is underway into the alleged extortion scheme involving the systemic collection of illicit fees from foreign nationals seeking to process residence permits in Indonesia.
Investigators have arrested eight immigration officials as suspects, ranging from regional office heads to senior officials at the ministry and Silmy, the highest-ranking figure implicated in the case. According to the KPK, the suspects racked up a total of Rp 145.5 billion (US$8.1 million) since 2022, distributed every Friday through concealed transactions using special codes.
Read also: Deputy immigration minister suspected of extorting foreigners overstay permit
