Viral Video of Immigration Bribery at Soekarno-Hatta Airport: What Really Happened?
Jakarta - A video circulating on social media recently stirred up controversy, alleging that a Chinese national attempted too bribe an immigration officer at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport with IDR 500,000 to expedite their clearance process. The clip quickly went viral, sparking widespread debate and concerns about corruption at Indonesia’s busiest airport.
However,the Directorate General of Immigration has stepped forward to clarify the situation. acting Director General Saffar Godam confirmed that the video was not an accurate portrayal of events. “We have reviewed the CCTV footage and conducted thorough checks. We need to clarify this matter directly with the individual involved at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport,” Godam stated on Sunday, January 19, 2025.
According to the Directorate General of Immigration, the claims made in the video are baseless. In an official statement posted on their Instagram account,they emphasized,”This video is not true. it has been directly confirmed and adjusted by checking CCTV that the officers did not ask for or receive any reward from the foreigner. There is no evidence in the video to support such claims.”
Further inquiry revealed that the two individuals featured in the video had actually passed through Terminal 2’s autogate system, bypassing manual immigration counters altogether. “The two foreigners are known to have passed through Terminal 2 on arrival autogate, meaning they did not interact with immigration officers directly,” the statement explained.
Godam reiterated that the immigration officers at Soekarno-Hatta Airport had not received any money, as the video suggested.”The chronological data has been verified by reviewing the CCTV footage. The officers did not ask for or receive anything from the individual in question,” he added.
Despite the official denial, the viral video has raised questions about the integrity of immigration procedures at Indonesian airports. In the footage, the Chinese national can be seen preparing the cash before landing, with the uploader claiming the money was intended to ensure a smooth passage through the so-called “green route.”
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in public institutions. While the Directorate General of Immigration has refuted the allegations, the viral nature of the video highlights the public’s sensitivity to issues of corruption and bribery.
As investigations continue, authorities are urging the public to remain cautious about trusting unverified content on social media.”We are committed to maintaining the integrity of our immigration processes and ensuring that all allegations are thoroughly investigated,” Godam concluded.