ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA — Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has uncovered a systemic corruption scandal involving the issuance of foreign worker permits (TKA) at the Ministry of Manpower (Kemenaker), a scheme that has allegedly persisted for over a decade.
Eight officials have been named as suspects in an extortion case related to the approval of Foreign Worker Utilization Plans (RPTKA), with total illicit gains amounting to IDR 53.7 billion (approximately USD 3.3 million).
KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo revealed that the anti-graft body had already flagged suspicious practices related to foreign worker permits as early as 2012. Despite the implementation of an online licensing system, corrupt practices have continued unabated.
“Ironically, even though applications are now submitted online, extortion still occurs—often through face-to-face meetings or private communications between officials and applicants,” Budi said on Friday, June 13, 2025.
Corruption Modus: Extortion in the Approval of Foreign Worker Plans
According to KPK, the core method used by corrupt officials involved extorting money from companies or individuals applying for RPTKA permits, which are mandatory for hiring foreign workers in Indonesia. These practices have persisted despite the issuance of prevention recommendations from KPK more than a decade ago.
KPK expressed concern that its recommendations were only partially implemented and failed to curb the corruption effectively. The Commission plans to conduct further risk mitigation measures, including systemic reforms and a comprehensive review of the foreign labor management system.
Acting Director of Investigations at KPK, Budi Sukmo, announced that on May 19, 2025, the Commission formally named eight individuals as suspects in the case. The suspects include senior officials and staff within the Ministry of Manpower:
Suhartono – Former Director General of Job Placement and Employment Opportunity Expansion (Binapenta)
Haryanto – Director General of Binapenta (2024–2025)
Wisnu Pramono – Former Director of Foreign Worker Utilization Control (2017–2019)
Devi Angraeni – Coordinator for RPTKA Feasibility Assessment
Gatot Widiartono – Head of the Maritime and Agriculture Sub-Directorate
Putri Citra Wahyoe, Jamal Shodiqin, and Alfa Eshad – Staff-level officials
IDR 53.7 Billion in Bribes and Extortion Uncovered
KPK provided a breakdown of the bribes and extortion money received by the suspects between 2019 and 2024:
Haryanto: IDR 18 billion
Putri Citra Wahyoe: IDR 13.9 billion
Gatot Widiartono: IDR 6.3 billion
Devi Angraeni: IDR 2.3 billion
Wisnu Pramono: IDR 580 million
Suhartono: IDR 460 million
Alfa Eshad: IDR 1.8 billion
Jamal Shodiqin: IDR 1.1 billion
KPK emphasized the urgent need to reform the permit licensing system across all government institutions, especially in areas involving the employment of foreign labor. The commission urges ministries and local governments to implement transparent, accountable, and integrity-based systems to eradicate illegal levies and corruption.
“We urge all ministries, agencies, and regional governments to build clean and transparent licensing systems, and to improve the integrity of public service officials,” Budi concluded. (AT Network)
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