The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has revealed a major corruption scandal involving alleged extortion and gratification in the processing of foreign worker permit applications (RPTKA) within the Ministry of Manpower as preliminary findings estimate that around Rp53.7 billion (US$3 million) was illegally collected over the course of more than a decade.

Acting Director of Investigation at KPK, Budi Sukmo Wibowo, said the extortion scheme had been ongoing since 2012, targeting agents applying for permits to employ foreign workers. Ministry staff allegedly demanded money in exchange for the smooth issuance of the RPTKA permits, acting under instructions from senior officials.

“The process involved demanding a sum of money from agents on the pretext that the foreign manpower plan (RPTKA) could only be approved if the payment was made,” Bud said on Thursday, June 5, 2025.

KPK has identified eight primary suspects in the case, among whom the largest share of illicit funds went to Haryanto (HY), the former Director of the Foreign Worker Utilization Control Directorate (PPTKA) and later Expert Staff for International Affairs at the ministry. He is suspected of receiving Rp18 billion.

Other distributions included:

● Putri Citra Wahyoe (PCW): Rp13.9 billion;

● Gatot Widiartono (GW): Rp6.3 billion;

● Devi Anggraeni (DA): Rp2.3 billion;

● Alfa Eshad (AE): Rp1.8 billion;

● Amal Shodiqin (JS): Rp1.1 billion;

● Wisnu Pramono (WP): Rp580 million;

● Suhartono (SH): Rp460 million.

Corruption network

Beyond the main suspects, Budi revealed that around 85 employees in the Ministry’s Directorate of PPTKA and Directorate General of Employment Placement and Job Opportunity Expansion (Binapenta and PKK) also benefited from the illegal funds.

The money was reportedly used for personal gain and distributed biweekly to employees from staff to office boys, under the guise of lunch money and miscellaneous office expenses. Budi noted that Rp 8 billion was collectively used for such purposes.

“There were also assets purchased in the names of staff and their family members,” he added.

Partial fund recovery

Some of the funds have been voluntarily returned during the investigation process. KPK confirmed that about Rp5 billion has been returned by recipients, including lower-level staff and office assistants.

List of key suspects and roles

● Suhartono (SH) – Director General of Binapenta and PKK (2024–2025);

● Haryanto (HY) – Former Director of PPTKA (2019–2024), later Expert Staff and Director General (2024–2025);

● Wisnu Pramono (WP) – Director of PPTKA (2017–2019);

● Devi Anggraeni (DA) – Director of PPTKA (2024–2025), previously PPTKA feasibility coordinator;

● Gatot Widiartono (GW) – Coordinator of PPTKA Analysis (2021–2025);

● Putri Citra Wahyoe (PCW) – Hotline Officer and RPTKA Verifier (2019–2025);

● Amal Shodiqin (JS) – Administrative Analyst and later Junior Placement Officer (2019–2025);

● Alfa Eshad (AE) – Junior Placement Officer since 2018.

KPK said it would thoroughly investigate the case, vowing to trace all recipients of the illegal funds and hold them accountable. Legal proceedings against the suspects are currently underway.