Scandal Noel

 

Jakarta – Kasus dugaan pemerasan dalam pengurusan sertifikasi Keselamatan dan Kesehatan Kerja (K3) di Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan (Kemnaker) yang menyeret nama Wakil Menteri Ketenagakerjaan (Wamenaker) nonaktif, Immanuel Ebenezer alias Noel, terus memasuki babak baru. Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi (KPK) mengungkapkan fakta mengejutkan: Noel ternyata bukan hanya menerima aliran dana dari praktik pemerasan, tetapi juga mengakui adanya setoran lain selama ia menjabat sebagai Wamenaker.

Plt Deputi Penindakan dan Eksekusi KPK, Asep Guntur Rahayu, membenarkan bahwa Noel telah memberikan keterangan mengenai penerimaan lain di luar dari skema pemerasan yang selama ini terungkap.

From the preliminary investigation, Noel is suspected of  pocketing IDR 3 billion  which was used to renovate his private home, as well as obtaining a Ducati Scrambler motorbike as a result of this underhand practice.  

Other Receipts Under Investigation, Gratuity Article Snares

Asep emphasized that Noel's case extends beyond the K3 certification extortion case. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is now expanding its investigation by using Article 12B of the Corruption Crimes Law (Tipikor) concerning gratuities . 

According to him, the acceptance in question is a form of profit that is clearly illegal and contrary to the rules.

Until now, Noel has remained silent regarding the allegations of other admissions.

After only two months in office, he's already received money.

Another fact that further tarnishes Noel's reputation is the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)'s admission that extortion money began flowing just two months after he was appointed Deputy Minister of Manpower. Noel officially assumed the position in October 2024. A month later, in November, he began soliciting money. By December 2024 , billions of rupiah had actually flowed into his pockets.    

Instead of improving the bureaucracy and stopping the corrupt practices that have long been rooted in the Ministry of Manpower, Noel actually allows, and even participates in, exploiting this extortion system .  

So far, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has confiscated four luxury cars and a Ducati motorcycle from Noel. All are suspected of being closely linked to the corruption case against him.    

Major Scandal: IDR 81 Billion in K3 Certification Extortion

This major case began with a sting operation (OTT) by the Corruption Eradication Committee (KPK) on Wednesday night, August 20, 2025. From the OTT, 14 people were arrested , and 11 of them have been officially named as suspects, including Noel. 

In a press conference, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) explained that the extortion practice in issuing K3 certificates had been ongoing from 2019 to 2024. Parties who were supposed to pay the normal fees for K3 certification were forced to pay multiple fees. The proceeds then went to several officials at the Ministry of Manpower. 

The amount was a staggering IDR 81 billion . Of that amount, the official suspect of receiving the largest share was Irvian Bobby Mahendro (IBM) , the Coordinator of the Occupational Health and Safety Institutions and Personnel Division for the 2022–2025 period.  

 Irvian is suspected of being the mastermind behind the extortion. He used tens of billions of rupiah for personal expenses, from luxury goods and entertainment to down payments on houses to cash deposits to various parties. He even used some of it to purchase luxury cars.

Noel Pleads Guilty, Seeks Amnesty

When he arrived at the KPK building wearing a special orange vest for prisoners, Tuesday (2/9), Noel finally spoke up.

"I admit my mistake and I take responsibility for my mistake," he said briefly to reporters.

He also apologized to the public. However, Noel continued to deny being arrested in a sting operation. He stated that the case against him was not pure extortion.

On the other hand, Noel also expressed a controversial hope: he asked President Prabowo Subianto for amnesty to free him from legal entanglements. However, this request was ignored. The President instead acted decisively by dismissing Noel from his position as Deputy Minister of Manpower.

The case that rocked the government

The Noel Ebenezer case was a major blow to the government's image, given that he had only recently assumed a strategic position as deputy minister. Rather than bringing about change, the case instead mired long-standing corruption.

Currently, KPK investigators are still investigating other alleged gratuities received by Noel. The public is waiting to see how far the illegal funds have flowed, and who else is involved in this Rp81 billion K3 certification scandal.

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