Illegal Levies from Migrant Workers Goes to Officials, KPK Say

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Corruption Eradication Commission has discovered that illegal levies collected from Indonesian migrant workers were distributed to agencies and ministries handling migrant worker affairs.

"It's not just an indication, but it's a fact. Some individuals gave something to grease migrant worker affairs to officials at agencies and ministries handling migrant worker affairs," KPK deputy chairman Basaria Panjaitan said after attending an event in Central Java on Wednesday, December 14, 2016.

Basaria revealed that the money was collected by middleman or companies distributing migrant workers.

According to Basaria, the corruption perception index is not only measured based on the number of suspects arrested by the KPK, "but whether the KPK can improve all public services."

Basaria explained that illegal levy practices occurred at various levels when migrant workers were fulfilling administrative requirements. According to Basaria, officials often hamper migrant workers to get certain services, so that they were forced to pay an amount of money to the officials. 

Earlier in 2014, the KPK and the National Police conducted an inspection at the migrant worker terminal in Soekarno-Hatta Airport.

"There were too many reports about extortion and illegal levy practices, not only committed by regular people, but also government officials, including law enforces,”" Basaria added.

ROFIUDDIN