THE anti-graft agency has arrested the country’s deputy minister for immigration affairs, a spokesman said, making him the second high-profile government official in two days to face corruption charges.
The arrest came a day after Indonesia’s Attorney General’s Office (Ago) detained Dadan Hindayana, the former head of an agency which oversees President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship free meals programme.
Dadan was named as a suspect in a corruption case linked to the programme’s governance and procurement. The two alleged corruption cases are unconnected.
Silmy Karim, Deputy Minister for Immigration and Correctional Affairs, was arrested on charges of corrupt practices in the administration of immigration documents, Budi Prasetyo, spokesperson with anti-graft agency KPK, said without elaborating further.
Silmy had been questioned at the KPK’s office since Wednesday night and emerged around 10 hours later yesterday morning in handcuffs and wearing an orange jacket, indicating that he has been named as a suspect.
He was then transported to a detention house.
The alleged corruption took place from 2023 to 2024, Budi said.
Silmy served as director general for immigration affairs under Prabowo’s predecessor Joko Widodo during the period.
The agency has also identified seven other suspects related to this case, he added. — Reuters
