Amelia Rahima Sari, Jakarta – Before his trial at Jakarta Corruption Court kicked off on Monday, February 2, 2026, former Deputy Minister of Manpower Immanuel Ebenezer Gerungan claimed the country's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) would target several high-ranking executive figures in sting operations. "Including regents, governors, and ministers," said the man familiarly known as Noel.
Noel's remark came after Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said he's not worried about the former minister's warning that state officials are at risk of "getting Noel-ed."
Nobody has to heed Noel's warning if they're not receiving bribes, Purbaya told media crew. Responding to Purbaya's dismissal, Noel accused that Minister Purbaya was "no saint," especially since "nearly all" state officials dabbled in corruption practices.
"What I meant is, just be careful of being targeted in a sting operation, getting Noel-ed means [KPK] will search for your faults," said Noel.
"Soon there will be regents, ministers, and governors who will 'get Noel-ed,'" he said.
The prosecutors at Indonesian anti-graft agency accused Immanuel Ebenezer of demanding a share of Rp3.3 billion and a Ducati motorcycle from the process of K3 (occupational health and safety) certification at the Ministry of Manpower. This was revealed in a trial on January 19, 2026, at the Jakarta Corruption Court.
According to the prosecutors, after being inaugurated as Deputy Minister of Manpower at the end of 2024, Noel immediately summoned Hery Sutanto, who was the Director of BKK3, to his office. The meeting discussed the deputy minister's share in the practice of extorting money from private parties.
While reading the indictment, the prosecutor mentioned that extortion practices against private entities in K3 certification process had actually been going on before 2021. The extortion was referred to as an appreciation or non-technical fee, where each applicant was charged Rp300-500 thousand per certificate.
– Ade Ridwan Yandwiputra contributed to the writing of this article.