KPK Respects the Pre-trial Appeal of Paulus Tannos Who Was Rejected by the Jaksel PN

KPK spokesperson, Budi Prasetyo/PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) does not mind the pretrial lawsuit filed by the suspect in the electronic identity card (e-KTP) procurement project corruption case, Paulus Tannos. The notification from the South Jakarta District Court (PN) regarding the legal effort has been received.

"In principle, the KPK certainly respects the legal rights of the suspects who have filed the pretrial in question, even though the same material has previously been tested and declared that all the procedural investigations by the KPK, including the determination of the suspect Paulus Tannos, have met the formal aspects," said KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo to reporters through a written statement, Tuesday, February 3.

The KPK, continued Budi, will prepare answers that will be read in the pretrial hearing. "We also emphasize that all processes carried out by the KPK in this case are based on the adequacy of valid evidence, and are carried out in accordance with the principles of legal certainty, accountability, and transparency," he said.

"Therefore, the KPK invites all parties to continue to follow the development of the legal process of this case."

Paulus Tannos is known to have filed a pretrial lawsuit again on Wednesday, January 28 and was registered with case number 11/Pid.Pra/2026/PN JKT.SEL. The first trial will be held on Monday, February 9.

Paulus Tannos, who is the Director of PT Sandipala Arthapura, had previously filed a pretrial lawsuit in 2025. However, the application was declared inadmissible by the Single Judge at the Jaksel PN.

In his consideration, the judge considered that the pretrial motion was an error in objecto and was premature. Thus, the investigation of the corruption case that ensnared Paulus Tannos continued.

As a reminder, Paulus Tannos was named a new suspect in the development of the investigation into the electronic KTP procurement corruption case on August 13, 2019. The KPK revealed the state's financial losses in the case of around Rp. 2.3 trillion.

However, Paulus Tannos fled abroad and changed his identity to Thian Po Tjhin. He was included in the KPK's wanted list (DPO) or fugitive since October 19, 2021.

Paulus was then arrested in Singapore in early January 2025. The current extradition process is still being carried out in accordance with the agreement signed by Indonesia and Singapore.