TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Efforts to repatriate Paulus Tannos, a suspect in the corruption case of e-KTP who has been on the wanted list since 2022, seem unlikely to materialize soon. After being arrested by the Singapore Police for extradition, he requested a suspension of detention, which is now being tried at the end of June 2025.
Tannos was named a suspect in the e-KTP corruption case in August 2019. As the Managing Director of PT Sandipala Arthaputra, he went into hiding and was declared a fugitive by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on August 22, 2022.
In early 2023, he was almost captured in Thailand. However, he managed to escape because the Interpol red notice was issued late due to a name change. This change of data made the KPK had to search for Paulus Tannos under his new name, Thjin Thian Po.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) immediately coordinated with the Ministry of Law (Kemenkum) after the fugitive Paulus Tannos requested a suspension of detention from the Singapore Government.
"The KPK will certainly coordinate with the Ministry of Law," said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo at the Red and White Building of the KPK, Jakarta, on Monday, June 2, 2025.
Paulus Tannos is a fugitive in the case of alleged corruption in the procurement of electronic identity cards (e-KTP) and is currently being detained in Singapore by the local government.
Furthermore, Budi stated that the KPK and the Indonesian Government want the process of handling and enforcing criminal law against corruption to run effectively, including in cases involving Paulus Tannos.
Previously, the Ministry of Law revealed that the extradition hearing for Paulus Tannos in Singapore will take place in June 2025.
The Ministry of Law also stated that the preliminary hearing regarding the eligibility of Paulus Tannos's extradition will take place on 23-25 June.
The Director-General of General Legal Administration (AHU) of the Ministry of Law, Widodo, said that Indonesia is making efforts to resist.
"The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) Singapore, at the request of the RI Government, continues to make efforts to resist Paulus Tannos' request," said Widodo to reporters in Jakarta on Monday.
Widodo stated that Indonesia had submitted an extradition request for Tannos to the Singapore authorities on February 20, 2025, and additional information on April 23, 2025 through diplomatic channels.
Currently, Tannos' status is still detained in the Lion City and the committal hearing for Tannos has been scheduled to take place on June 23-25, 2025.
"Legal proceedings in Singapore are still ongoing and Paulus Tannos' position is not yet willing to be voluntarily handed over," he said.
Previously, Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas stated that the extradition of the fugitive in the e-KTP corruption case, is just awaiting a trial in Singapore as all documents have been submitted to the Foreign Minister.
"Paulus Tannos is just awaiting trial. All of his documents have been fully submitted to the Foreign Minister and have been conveyed to the Singapore authorities," said Supratman at the Ministry of Law Office, Jakarta, last May 14.
Paulus Tannos is a fugitive of the KPK and has been on the wanted list since October 19, 2021. Tannos was arrested in Singapore by the local anti-corruption agency, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).
On January 17, 2025, the Singapore Attorney General's Office reported that Tannos had been arrested. Before the arrest, the International Relations Division of the Indonesian National Police sent a temporary arrest letter to the Singapore authorities to assist in the arrest.
A Country Must Not Lose Against a Fugitive
Member of the XIII House of Representatives Commission, Mafirion, said that the country must not lose to a fugitive like Paulus Tannos, who refuses to return to Indonesia by requesting a suspension of detention in Singapore.
He considered Tannos' actions not only as an evasion of the law, but also as an insult to the sovereignty of the country's legal system.
"This case is a litmus test, not only for the KPK, but for our entire law enforcement system," said Mafirion when contacted in Jakarta on Monday.
He urged the Government, especially the Ministry of Law, to aggressively and strategically oversee the extradition process, ensuring that all legal documents are prepared thoroughly and convincingly.
In addition, the ministry also needs to closely coordinate with the Singapore authorities, including through diplomatic and legal channels, to deal with the suspension requested by Tannos.
He also reminded that the government needs to make use of the ratified extradition agreement between Indonesia and Singapore, as a form of joint commitment to combat transnational crimes.
Furthermore, he asked the Ministry of Immigration and Penitentiary to freeze Tannos' passport and revoke all potential immigration documents that he may use to escape.
"Update the database and preventive measures at all national immigration points and collaborate with Interpol and Singapore immigration authorities," he said.
According to him, the resolution of Tannos' case is not just a legal matter, but a matter of the country's dignity. If a corruption fugitive is allowed to maneuver freely abroad, then the honor of a sovereign nation is at stake.
"The success of bringing back Tannos will show that Indonesia is serious about combating corruption, without compromise," he said.
Chairman of the XIII House of Representatives Commission, Willy Aditya, said that the Indonesian government needs to use diplomacy more assertively or more firmly towards the Singapore government to be able to bring back the e-KTP corruption fugitive, Paulus Tannos.
He stated that assertive and measured diplomacy is needed so that the intention to bring back Tannos can be realized.
"The government needs to consider using more assertive diplomacy towards the Singapore government. This is to show how much damage Tannos has caused in Indonesia," said Willy to Antara.
"We just need to emphasize how important and urgent Paulus Tannos' accountability in Indonesia is to the government and the legal authorities of Singapore," he said.
Editor's Choice: Paulus Tannos Says Extradition Process Not in Accordance with Indonesia-Singapore Agreement
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
