Mitsuhiro Taniguchi Fugitive From Japan Flees To Indonesia, Police Cooperate With Immigration To Check Traffic Data

Head of the Public Relations Division of the National Police Brigadier General Dedi Prasetyo/DOK DIVHUMAS POLRI

JAKARTA - The National Police said they would assist the Japanese police in finding the fugitive case of the COVID-19 subsidy fund fraud case, Mitsuhiro Taniguchi. This is done by collaborating with Immigration to check the data on crossings in and out of Indonesia.

"Pro-active steps have been coordinated with Immigration to check the certainty of the suspect's crossing into or out of Indonesian jurisdiction," said Head of the Public Relations Division of the National Police Inspector General Dedi Prasetyo to reporters, Monday, June 6.

If later information and clues about Mitsuhiro Taniguchi's presence in Indonesia are found, the National Police will immediately submit it to the Japanese authorities.

If the information is forwarded to the National Police, the fugitive can be immediately secured and returned or to Japan to be dealt with in accordance with applicable regulations.

"If it is found, it will be immediately informed to the Japanese Police Slo for administrative follow-up," said Dedi.

Meanwhile, based on data held by the National Police, Dedi said that Mitsuhiro Taniguchi is currently not on the wanted list or Red Notice as a suspect.

Even so, it is confirmed that the Police will continue to coordinate to track down the fugitive's whereabouts in Indonesia.

"Regarding Mitsuhiro Taniguchi, a fugitive from the Japanese police, until now there has been no Red Notice regarding the suspect," said Dedi.

For information, Mitsuhiro Taniguchi is a fugitive for the COVID-19 subsidy fund fraud case. He is said to have lost track of him by fleeing to Indonesia.

Mitsuhiro is called the mastermind of the crime because of the figure who gave orders to the three suspects who had been arrested in the fraud case. They, namely, Rie Taniguchi (45), Daiki (22) and a man whose name has not been disclosed by the police.

The trio received orders from Mitsuhiro to file fake tax returns on behalf of people who had registered with the tax office. Then, they go through the procedure to get the subsidy.