The Arrest Of Paulus Tannos Is Considered To Make Corruptors Think Again Fleeing To Singapore

JAKARTA - Former investigator of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Yudi Purnomo assessed that the arrest of the President Director of PT Sandipala Arthapura, Paulus Tannos, by the Singaporean authorities made corruptors think again about running away there. This is because the country is committed to implementing an extradition agreement signed since 2022.

"Because Singapore has been firm, yes, and is committed to extradition that has been signed with Indonesia," Yudi told reporters quoted Monday, January 27.

This condition, continued Yudi, made other countries could be looked at by corruptors to escape. Thus, the government needs to explore similar cooperation as done with Singapore.

"It could be that in the future corruptors will look for other countries that do not yet have an extradition treaty with Indonesia," he said.

"So then it is necessary for the government to immediately realize which countries have the potential to be used as escapes for corruptors," continued the former anti-corruption commission employee.

As previously reported, Paulus Tannos, President Director of PT Sandipala Arthapura was named a suspect in the corruption case in the procurement of electronic identity cards (e-KTP) in 2019.

He was announced as a suspect along with three other people, namely Isnu Edhi Wijaya as former President Director of the State Printing Corporation of the Republic of Indonesia (PNRI); 2014-2019 DPR RI member Miryam S Haryani; and former Head of the Information Technology Technical Team for the Implementation of e-KTP Husni Fahmi.

Paul went on the run and was on the wanted list (DPO) in 2021. He was almost caught but because he changed his name and passport, the effort failed.

This entrepreneur was later arrested by the Singapore Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) on January 17 and temporarily detained for 45 days. The KPK revealed that this effort was the result of the work of the National Police's International Relations Division (Hubinter) according to the extradition agreement.

"The provisional application for detention is carried out by the KPK through a police to police route based on the extradition agreement, namely to the Hubinter Police Headquarters. We sent a request by attaching the completeness of the detention requirements," said KPK Spokesperson Tessa Mahardhika to VOI, Saturday, January 25.