Immanuel Ebenezer Admits Role in K3 Graft Scandal

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Former Deputy Minister of Manpower Immanuel Ebenezer Gerungan, widely known as Noel, has confessed to his involvement in a corruption scandal. Noel made the admission during his initial trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Monday, January 19, 2026. "I must take responsibility for my actions. I clearly admit my mistakes," Noel stated following the court proceedings. Noel signaled his intent to cooperate with the ongoing legal process. "In principle, we respect the law, especially regarding my own actions. I confess that I am guilty," he said. However, he claimed he did not act alone, alleging that a mass organization and a political party also benefited from the illicit funds. "There is certainly one political party and one organization directly involved in this scheme," Noel claimed. While Noel declined to name the entities involved in the extortion case immediately, he promised a full public disclosure next week. "I won't reveal the ‘color’ just yet, but the clue is clear regarding the party and the organization. I will reveal the party next week," he said. Noel stands accused of demanding a Rp3.3 billion cut and a Ducati motorcycle through the extortion of Occupational Safety and Health (K3) certification processes within the Ministry of Manpower. The prosecution’s indictment, read at the Central Jakarta District Court, detailed how Noel allegedly summoned Hery Sutanto, the Director of the K3 Development Center (BKK3), to his office shortly after his appointment in late 2024. The meeting was reportedly held to discuss the deputy minister’s share of kickbacks collected from private entities. "In November 2024, the defendant called Hery to his office to inquire about the practice of collecting money from applicants for K3 certifications and licenses," the prosecutor stated on Monday. The prosecution further revealed that the collection of illicit funds from K3 applicants had been a standard practice since before 2021, often masked as "appreciation" or "non-technical fees." Applicants were reportedly charged between Rp 300,000 and Rp 500,000 per certificate. "The defendant, Immanuel Ebenezer, then demanded his share of these fees as the Deputy Minister of Manpower from Hery Sutanto," the prosecutor noted. In December 2024, Noel allegedly contacted Irvian Bobby Mahendro, the Coordinator for Institutional Development and K3 Personnel, to demand a Rp3 billion payment. The indictment states that this money was later handed over to Noel's son, Divian Ariq, near a gas station in Central Jakarta. The prosecutor specified that while Rp70 million of the sum came from PT KEM Indonesia, the remaining Rp2.93 billion was sourced from various other K3 license applicants. In addition to the cash collected from his subordinates, Noel is accused of receiving a Ducati Scrambler with the license plate B 4225 SUQ from private parties. The total value of the illicit gains attributed to Noel amounts to Rp3.365 billion. For these actions, Noel is charged with multiple violations of the Law on the Corruption Eradication. Read: Fact Check: No Evidence Nadiem Makarim Handed Rp450 Trillion Over to Jokowi