:strip_icc():format(jpeg)/kly-media-production/medias/8263141/original/078437000_1781860015-40277.jpg "KPK Questions Lecturer Over Silmy Karim Doctoral Payments")
Indonesian anti-corruption investigators have summoned and questioned Universitas Brawijaya lecturer Romy Hermawan regarding allegations that former Deputy Minister of Immigration Silmy Karim routed regular cash payments to him during doctoral studies. According to the Corruption Eradication Commission, the funds allegedly originated from a extortion scheme spanning the Directorate General of Immigration.
Investigation Into University Payments
Investigators from the Corruption Eradication Commission questioned Romy Hermawan on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, over his role as a promotor for Silmy Karim’s doctoral studies at Universitas Brawijaya. Commission spokesperson Budi Prasetyo stated that the suspect allegedly provided cash payments to the lecturer on a routine basis during study guidance sessions. Authorities are currently auditing the exact financial totals involved in these academic sessions.
According to statements reported by Kompas.com and Liputan6.com, the funds given to the university lecturer did not come from personal accounts. Instead, anti-corruption investigators allege the money derived from a broader collection pool inside the Directorate General of Immigration. This pool allegedly accumulated through service fees and subordinate collections managed as tactical funds.
Extortion Scheme at the Directorate General of Immigration
The inquiry into the university payments forms part of a much larger corruption case targeting the immigration agency. The Corruption Eradication Commission previously named Silmy Karim and seven other immigration officials as suspects in an ongoing extortion investigation involving foreign national stay permits. Investigators estimate that individuals within the agency collected approximately Rp 145,5 miliar directly or through intermediaries between 2022 and 2026.
According to findings detailed by Kompas.com, officials distributed these collected funds every Friday. Silmy Karim allegedly received a recurring weekly share of Rp 100 juta. Authorities state that the suspects utilized the illicit proceeds for personal expenses, asset purchases, and business ventures, including towing companies established to launder the incoming cash.
Suspects Named in the Immigration Case
Alongside Silmy Karim, the anti-corruption agency’s suspect list includes several senior immigration figures. The roster features Saffar Muhammad Godam, who served as Acting Director General of Immigration from 2024 to 2025, and Jaya Saputra, head of the West Java regional immigration office who formerly directed stay permits and immigration status. Investigators also named Tessar Bayu Setyaji, Bagus Bramantyo, Ronald Arman Abdullah, Juniadi Sri Priambudi, and Gusti Benardiansyah.
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